298 SYMBIOGENESIS 



As all these considerations again confirm : it is the law of 

 symbio genesis which provides for the most ideal form of self- 

 preservation, viz., that it is necessary for all parts and organs 

 to co-operate in due degree in maintaining the tone and vigour 

 of the whole organism, just as it is for all organisms in the 

 biological whole to co-operate in due degree in their turn to 

 maintain the world as we see it and to provide for its further 

 progress. 



To return now to anaphylaxis. 



The incubation period, we are told, depends upon the dose, 

 the type of animal, and especially upon the nature of the 

 antigen used. 



Again this is as we might expect it, particularly if, as 

 I have stated, the course of disease in every organism must 

 vary according to conditions of symbiosis and of resistance, 

 i.e., of the general health of the organism. 



Once "sensitised" it seems that organisms retain an 

 increased susceptibilty to the particular poison during their 

 entire life. Indeed it would appear that a " sensitised " 

 animal, like an " immunised " one, " is no longer the same 

 as a non-immunised individual" (italics mine), even though 

 otherwise apparently enjoying good health. 



I should interpret this to mean that the " alloy "- 

 formation required by the introduction of a poison has 

 necessitated a permanent pathogeiietic change in the 

 domestic symbiosis of the individual, and that such change 

 differentiates it once and for all from normal individuals. 



Prof. Bichet concedes that there are a few easily 

 appreciated alterations in a "sensitised" individual. For 

 example, there is always a definite leucocytosis. 



" At the end of six months dogs injected with crepitine 

 have 18,000 leucocytes per c.m., instead of 10,000, the normal 

 figure." 



This occurrence of leucocytosis practically confirms my 

 contention that far-reaching pathogenetic changes are taking 

 place in the system to cope with a poison, as it also indicates 



