PATHOGENESIS 329 



counter to domestic and biological symbiosis. The fact of a 

 " greater intensity on the repetition of the injection," although 

 apparently so puzzling as to seem almost miraculous to the 

 orthodox biologist, can now be seen to be a mere detail con- 

 nected with the means of resistance, of defence, and of patho- 

 genesis at the disposal of the organism. The chief element 

 remains the introduction of a foreign substance which is not 

 required, but, on the contrary, constitutes a serious impedi- 

 ment and menace to normal life. 



The organism exists first of all for work. It cannot well 

 afford to give all its forces to the speedy extrusion of 

 intruders. It neutralises them, getting ready in the meantime 

 for sterner measures in case of recurrence of similar 

 necessities. A second injection provides the opportunity, as 

 also indeed an urgent call for a supreme effort to cope with the 

 poison. The success of this effort depends on the symbiotic 

 power of the organism. Where this is small, or has already 

 been too seriously impaired, the defensive symbiotic "elan" 

 proves a failure or cannot even be undertaken. 



Prof. Richet thinks that we must attribute to the living 

 cell an extraordinarily delicate and complex chemistry, which 

 chemistry, according to him, does all that is needed to produce 

 the various phenomena of anaphylaxis. He entirely overlooks 

 the symbiotic connections of the "living cell " and what they 

 entail in mutual force. He makes, however, a very apposite 

 suggestion which may be read to imply that differentiation of 

 individuals (and, hence, of species) is in accordance with 

 food:- 



Just as we have a psychic personality by which each is himself and 

 not another ; so we have a humoral personality which also makes each 

 different from another : this latter personality is due absolutely to the 

 multiple ingestions and intoxications which have altered each of us by 

 leaving indelible effects. 



Tal persona, tal pasta ! 



A German proverb says that a man is what he eats. That 

 the various "multiple ingestions and intoxications" can and 



