HYPERSUSCEPTIBILITY 227 



passes through the period of sensitization to the infecting organism. 

 When, therefore, the infecting organism or its products are present in 

 sufficient amounts the manifestations of disease appear in the form of 

 what may be termed an acute or sub-acute anaphylaxis. As time goes 

 on this process is transformed into an immunity and the disease under- 

 goes cure. In this latter state it may be assumed that the body fluids 

 have developed a sufficient amount of protective substance so that the 

 cells are no longer susceptible to attack. This would satisfactorily 

 explain the self-limitation of .infectious disease. By assuming that 

 injury of the cells may have become so serious as completely to 

 interfere with life processes, death may ensue, or if the disturb- 

 ance is not so severe the condition may exhibit the chronic com- 

 plications which so frequently follow acute infection. 



