Historical sketch on Immunity 541 



the fourth edition of the same work, published in 1897, we find at 

 the corresponding place the following passage 1 : "Recent researches 

 indicate the probability, however, that the theory of Metschnikoff...is 

 not in a position to offer a complete explanation of the process of 

 immunity." This passage is followed by a somewhat conciliatory and 

 eclectic development of the theory. 



Let us take as a second example Giinther's Introduction to the 

 Study of Bacteriology, widely read both in the original and in trans- 

 lations. In the first edition published in 1890 2 the theory of 

 phagocytosis is curtly dismissed as " being incapable of withstanding 

 criticism." In the fifth edition of the same work, however 3 , published 

 in 1898, this theory is no longer treated thus summarily. It is given [565] 

 a place amongst the theories of immunity and an attempt, similar to 

 that made by Buchner, is made to reconcile it with the humoral theory. 



A change in the same direction may also be observed in Charrin's 

 view. In the first edition of his Patliologie ggntrale infectieuse, this 

 observer 4 had already taken an eclectic view on this question of the 

 theories of immunity. But the function which he assigns to the 

 phagocytes is subsidiary and secondary, whilst to that of the humoral 

 properties is assigned a position of primary importance. In the second 

 edition of the same work, which appeared seven years later 5 , the 

 importance of phagocytosis is recognised in a much larger measure, 

 as may be gathered from the following passages : " For my part, 

 I have always accepted phagocytosis : at the same time I have 

 always accepted the existence of special humoral properties. As 

 early as 1888 I showed, in vivo, that the germs are modified 

 outside the cells ; but I did not know from what groups of anato- 

 mical elements these properties were derived, I exaggerated their 

 importance and it is the decision of this origin and this importance 

 that renders it possible to reconcile the two theories " (p. 250). 

 "After all, the defence rests upon these two great processes or 

 cellular activities, phagocytosis in the first line, and then humoral 

 influences, some of them bactericidal and injurious to the living germ, 

 others antitoxic and injurious to their secretions " (p. 253). 



Whilst the theory of phagocytosis has been consolidated by the 



1 "Grnndriss der Hygiene," Leipzig, 4 to Aufl., 1897, S. 507. 



2 "Einfiihrung in das Studium der Bakteriologie," Leipzig, 1890, S. 146. 



3 "Einfiihrung in das Studium der Bakteriologie," 5* Aufl., 1698, S. 275. 



4 " Traite de medecine " de Cbarcot, Bouchard, et Brissaud, 1891, 1. 1, pp. 219230. 



5 "Traite de medecine...," 2 e ed., 1898, t. i, pp. 250 2J4. 



