DIS-EASE THE CAUSE OF GERMS CHAPTER XI IMMUNITY Defined Immunity is defined as the ability of Innate Intelligence to maintain metabolic equilibrium in the body in the environments in which man finds himself; or that power of Innate Intelligence to rid the living body of poisons and invading organisms; or that resistance which is accomplished through the expression of mental impulses in the tissue cells whereby all invading microörganisms or toxins are expelled from the body, thereby enabling the normal expression of life in the body. The degree of immunity may be represented by the degree of intellectual adaptation possible in the body, and this in turn depends upon the freedom in the transmission of mental impulses through the spinal nerves. Immunity may be considered as the degree of protection which Innate is able to give the body and varies from a slight adaptation to the utmost adaptation or protection from all invading agencies. Immunity is one of the most interesting and yet the most illusive and complicated subjects which we will have to consider from the standpoint of chiropractic philosophy, for in order to understand immunity we must understand the adaptative processes carried on within the body. From time immemorial man has made an effort to immunize himself from the ravages of dis-ease. In former times he tried to accomplish this through the use of charms which led to many superstitious practices, some remnants of which have survived to the present day. In recent years large sums of money have been expended in scientific research in an effort to discover the secret which would make the human race immune from dis-ease, but to no avail. It is a recognized fact that great good has been accomplished in improving conditions and creating an environment in which there might be a more perfect expression of life with less necessity for an excessive expenditure of adaptative energy. But man himself has not been made immune by these methods. The procedure has been wrong for the cause of dis-ease is not in man’s environment, but within man himself. Chiropractic will accomplish the most desired end by restoring to normal the transmission of mental impulses to all parts of the body so there may be a complete adaptation to all environmental conditions that may arise. The body will then be protected from the supposedly deadly microörganisms that are accused of being responsible for human ills. If the public could read what the hygienists have to say on the subject of immunology and could read it in the light of chiropractic philosophy they would realize that chiropractic adjustments will not only restore health to the sick, but will prevent the well from getting sick. In order that the student may understand the subject more fully we will now consider briefly in a general way some of the former theories of immunity and then take up a careful study of the chiropractic philosophy of immunity.