ORIGINAL ARTICLES. 
AUTOTHERAPY.* 
By Charles H. Duncan, M.D., Attending Surgeon of Volunteer Hospital, 
New York City. 
Healthy tissues either resist disease, or develop or tend to de¬ 
velop resistance to disease. This is the fundamental principle of 
health and, consequently, of life. 
Reaction to disease is brought about by the action of toxic 
substances (developed during the course of the disease) on 
healthy tissues. This is called specific reaction. 
Specific reaction is due to the action of specific anti-bodies. 
Approximate reaction may be developed in the tissues by the 
action of the products of heterologous micro-organisms on 
healthy tissues, and also by the action of autogenous micro-or¬ 
ganisms (which have undergone a change, as in sterilization by 
heat, or from being grown in culture media outside of the body 
tissues, etc.) on healthy tissues. The heterologous micro-organ¬ 
isms and autogenous micro-organisms last referred ta are vac¬ 
cines of lowered therapeutic value. 
Specific antibodies are developed in healthy tissues by auto- 
inoculation, or direct inoculation, which is practically the same 
thing, that is, by the introduction of the toxic substances devel¬ 
oped during the course of the disease in healthy tissues. The 
process tends to bring about a natural cure. 
A natural cure is brought about either by auto-inoculation or 
direct inoculation. 
“ Auto-inoculation may be assisted by hyperemia, as heat in 
fomentations; massage, as in friction; Biers’ hyperemic treat¬ 
ment; stimulating lotions locally applied, etc.” 
* From Lancet Clinic, Nov. 4 , 1911 . Read before the Veterinary Medical Associa¬ 
tion of New York City, June 5 , 1912 . 
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