118 LIFE OF ELIE METCHNIKOFF 



of mobile cells around tlie splinter. Tliis proves that 

 the essence of inflammation consists in the reaction 

 of the mobile cells, whilst vascular and nervous inter- 

 vention has but a secondary significance. Therefore, 

 if the phenomenon is considered in its simplest expres- 

 . , sion, inflammation is merely a reaction of the meso- 

 dermic cells against an external agent. 



Metchnikoff then reasoned as follows : In man, 

 microbes are usually the cause which provokes in- 

 flammation; therefore it is against those intruders 

 that the mobile mesodermic cells have to strive. 

 These mobile cells must destroy the microbes by 

 digesting them and thus bring about a cure. 



Inflammation is thus a curative reaction of the 

 organism, and morbid symptoms are no other than 

 the signs of the struggle between the mesodermic 

 cells and the microbes. 



In order to verify these conjectures, he started 

 studying the englobing of microbes by mesodermic 

 cells in larvae and in other marine invertebrates 

 which he inoculated. 



At that time, a well-known German scientist, 

 Kleinenberg, was Professor of Zoology at Messina. 

 Metchnikoff imparted his ideas to him and showed 

 him his experiments. Kleinenberg encouraged him 

 very much ; he looked upon his theory as "an 

 Hippocratic thought " and advised him to publish 

 it at once. 



Metchnikofi was also greatly encouraged by 

 Virchow, who happened to pass through Messina and 

 came to see his preparations and his experiments, 

 which seemed to him conclusive. However, Virchow 

 advised him to proceed with the greatest prudence 

 in their interpretation, as, he said, the theory of 



