A study of the above table reveals that an actual depres- 

 sion in the phagocytic activity associated with infectious dis- 

 ease is not common, and indeed is exceedingly rare, except in 

 individuals v^ith a lovif leucocytic count. In most cases the in- 

 crease in neutrophile leucocytes over compensates for the ob- 

 served decrease in opsonic efficiency revealed by the Wright 

 technique. It seems reasonable, then, to suppose that infections 

 may triumph, not because of a rupture in phagocytic activity of 

 the animal but in spite of a very considerable increase in the 

 effectiveness of that defensive mechanism. 



(59) 



