318 SYMBIOGENESIS 



of anaphylaxis are suppressed and elimination rendered impos- 

 sible by over-poisoning of the system. The healthy 

 (symbiotic) endeavour of the body is suppressed and for a time 

 it remains in a sullen state of "immunity," i.e., of increased 

 pathogenetic tension. Or is there anyone naive enough to 

 believe that repeated and massive doses of poison can really be 

 better than rare and small doses ? * 



Such "immunity" to anaphylaxis, Prof. Richet thinks, 

 " is quickly established in some cases in an hour and a half." 

 " Anti-anaphylactic immunity conferred by an injection made 

 in the pre-anaphylactic period may last three months." 



However, neither the brain, liver, spleen, nor serum can 

 transmit " anti-anaphylactic immunity," which again makes 

 us suspect this kind of "protection," for it seems that it is 

 easier to transmit the predisposition to serum disease to 

 offspring than to transmit the extremely doubtful kind of 

 "protection" conferred by " anti-anaphylaxis." 



Prof. Richet, of course, only quite impartially records 

 results of scientific experiments. He is by no means narrow- 

 minded, but open to other considerations. He suggests that 

 it is possible to explain the results of repeated and massive 

 injections "by other hypotheses than anti-anaphylaxis." 



Thus in criticising the view that calcium chloride injec- 

 tions give " immunity," he points out that " calciuih chloride 

 is only effectual in antagonising anaphylaxis in extremely 

 strong, almost poisonous doses." 



Or, more outspoken sceptical still: "All poisons of the 

 nervous system, like ether and chloral, in Besredka and Roux's 

 historical experiments, are in themselves anti-anaphylactics ; I 

 would preferably call them pseudo-anti-anaphylactics ; they 



* Sir W. Watson Cheyne protests against the introduction of vaccines on a 

 gigantic scale and apart from a strictly prophylactic use. In his Hunterian oration 

 he says : " The fact that the disease is present shows that the natural immunity of 

 the body has been more or less overcome. If the quantity absorbed from a wound 

 has broken down the resisting power of the body, how can it be restored by the 

 subsequent injection of more toxins from a flask ? I know that bacteriologists try 

 to defend their position, but the arguments put forward in its support are purely 

 theoretical and very obscure." . . " I have seen lesions getting well in a part of 

 the body and yet, while still under vaccine treatment, fresh lesions breaking out in 

 other parts of the body, and I have also seen bad and even fatal results follow the 

 use of vaccines." Evidently we cannot play fast and loose with our resisting powers. 



