GEJLMS. 31 



expressed by nearly thirty leading germ theorists ; those 

 of this country and Europe. These distinguished bac- 

 teriologists have had all the opportunities the world 

 affords for studying their theories. They decided years 

 ago that germs caused disease; they also decided that 

 antitoxins and other preventives manufactured by 

 themselves would kill the germs and cure the patient. 

 They decided that, if their antitoxins were taken before 

 disease gained a foothold the system may be rendered 

 immune; i. e., proof against attack. 



In the following article is the explanation( ?), show- 

 ing how immunity is produced. They have been in the 

 immunity business for half a lifetime, and it is but 

 reasonable to suppose that their knowledge of germs 

 and disease corresponds to their understanding of im- 

 munity and its cause. 



Here are twenty-nine physicians with international 

 reputations as bacteriologists trying to explain how 

 immunity is produced, yet no two of them agree. The 

 Clinic article is not given in full, yet there are twenty- 

 nine quotations giving the views of twenty-nine investi- 

 gators. 



Immunity. 



"Immunity is due to the development of bactericidal 

 products in the tissues ; to a lack of nourishment in the 

 tissues; to the development of nucleinic acid; to the 

 exhaustion of the supply of pabulum in the body; to 

 the increasing alkalinity of the blood; to alexin; to ag- 

 glutinin ; to immunizing agents stored up ; to immuniz- 

 ing agents generated on the spot. Germ invasion 



