BACTERIOLOGY IN A NUTSHELL. 



Opsonins. 



Nature Is 

 Jealous. 



they stimulate the phagocytes into greater ac- 

 tivity and also lend to them greater power foi 

 destruction and absorption of pathogenic bac- 

 teria and of their toxins. The substance 

 opsonin, is said by some authorities to act as 

 an ally to the phagocytes by rendering them 

 easier of digestion and of absorption. While 

 opsonin is always normally present in the blood, 

 it is now believed by many scientists to be 

 increased in both acquired and artificial im- 

 munity and is of great assistance to the action 

 of the phagocytes, not only by rendering them 

 easier to destroy, but by attracting them toward 

 their destroyers, the phagocytes. 



The Opsonic Theory. 



The following article, by L. B. Newell, M, 

 D., copied from the May (1907) number of 

 the North Carolina Medical Journal, gives a 

 very clear explanation of the "Opsonic 

 Theory." 



"The immortal Pasteur realizing the im- 

 mensity of the subject of the causation of 

 disease by germs and seeing the effect of the 

 use of vaccine upon smallpox, uttered the 

 prophecy that the day would come when we 

 would treat all bacterial disease by vaccination. 



Nature takes ample care that we find out 

 her secrets only after an infinity of work, yet 

 as the years go by we begin to realize more and 

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