LIFE OF ELIE METCHNIKOFF 133 



On our way back we passed through Berlin, where 

 Metchnikoff wished to see Professor Koch and to 

 show him some interesting specimens of phagocytosis. 

 The great savant received him very coldly. For a 

 long time, while examining specimens of the spleen in 

 relapsing fever, he refused to recognise in them an 

 example of phagocytosis. Though he was at last 

 obliged to bow to evidence, he yet remained unfavour- 

 able to the phagocyte theory, and all his assistants 

 followed his example. Metchnikoff was much sur- 

 prised and grieved by this hostility towards his 

 ideas, notwithstanding that they were based on well- 

 established facts. We hastened to leave Berlin. 



Many years later, when phagocytosis was generally 

 admitted, even in Germany, Professor Koch and many 

 other German scientists welcomed Metchnikoff very 

 kindly, which somewhat counterbalanced the un- 

 pleasantness of early memories. But, at that time, 

 the contrast between our impression of Paris and of 

 Germany was so great that all hesitation was at an 

 end : the choice was made. 



On returning to Odessa, Metchnikoff began to 

 prepare his resignation and his departure. Yet he 

 still had time to make some researches on phago- 

 cytosis in tuberculosis, in reply to the objections 

 which rained upon his theory. 



In the spring, he handed over the direction of the 

 Institute to Dr. Gamaleia and took leave ; we went 

 to the country for a while before our final departure. 

 During that time, Drs. Gamaleia and Bardach were 

 making anthrax vaccinations on a large scale in a 

 vast private property in the province of Kherson. 

 When we were settled in our country home, Metch- 

 nikoff received a telegram announcing that the first 



