The Body at Work: A Treatise on the Principles of PhysiologyHill, Alex
Science
The Body at Work: A Treatise on the Principles of Physiology
Hill, Alex
Physiology
A still more remarkable property in relation to coagulation must be
assigned to leucocytes. The blood of a dog which has been rendered
incoagulable by injection of peptone recovers its coagulability after
a time. If a further injection of “peptone” be made, the animal is
found to be immune. Injection of “peptone” no longer renders its
blood incoagulable. In a similar manner the blood develops a power of
resisting the action of agents which induce its coagulation whilst
circulating in the vascular system. Nucleo-proteins contained in
extracts of lymphatic glands and other organs when injected into the
veins of living animals cause their blood to clot, provided they are
injected in sufficient quantity. If they are injected in quantity less
than sufficient to induce coagulation, they render the animal immune
to their influence. A larger quantity given to an animal thus prepared
fails to take effect. This brings the phenomena of coagulation and
resistance to coagulation to the verge of chemistry. They extend into
the domain in which pathology reigns. Tempting though it be to record
other facts with regard to these phenomena which recent investigation
has brought to light, it is probably judicious to leave the problem at
the frontier. Across the frontier lies a fascinating land, rich with
unimaginable possibilities for the human race. Settlement is rapidly
proceeding in this country, which is charted, like other border-lands,
with barbarous names: “antibodies,” “haptors,” “amboceptors,” “toxins,”
“antitoxins,” and the like—finger-posts to hypotheses which show every
sign of hasty and provisional construction. But certain facts stand
out, in whatever way theory may, in the future, link them up. The virus
of hydrophobia, modified by passing through a rabbit, develops in human
beings, even when injected after they have been infected, the power of
resisting hydrophobia. The serum of a horse which has acquired immunity
to diphtheria aids the blood of a child, which has not had time to
become immune, in destroying the germs of this disease. It is a contest
between the blood and offensive bodies of all kinds which find entrance
to it, whether living germs or poisons in solution; with victory
always, in the long-run, on the side of the blood, provided its owner
does not die in the meantime. And not only is the blood victorious
in the struggle with any given invader, but having repulsed him, it
retains for a long while a property which neutralizes all further
attempts at aggression on his part. In the past, physicians have fought
disease with such clumsy weapons as mercury, arsenic, and quinine. Now
they anticipate disease. In mimic warfare with an attenuated virus the
blood is trained to combat. Smallpox which has been passed through
the body of a cow is suppressed by the blood’s native strength. The
exercise develops skill to deal with the most virulent germs of the
same kind. In cases in which physicians cannot anticipate disease in
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account