Infection, immunity and serum therapy in relation to the infectious diseases which attack man

Preface

Immunity, in its present state of development, with its manifold new terms and special methods of experimentation, is a subject which appears difficult to one who has not studied the newer literature assiduously and grown into a knowledge of the conditions through actual work in the laboratory. Much of the literature is technical in character and appears in journals not commonly found in the hands of the physician and student. Much of it also is comparatively recent, and its "essence" has not yet appeared in books which are in general use. The literature of immunity, moreover, grows so amazingly that the analysis even of current works is a task of no mean proportions.

At the same time, the subject is one of great interest and importance, and there exists a general wish, frequently expressed, to know more about the recent advances and the conditions which have operated against the success of serum therapy on a broader scale.

The editor of The Journal of the American Medical Association, appreciating the need which seemed to exist, requested the writer to prepare a series of articles on the subject of "Immunity,"

iv PREFACE.

which should present the general principles and the important theories and facts, in as simple a manner as possible. These articles appeared from week to week during the year of 1905 in the journal mentioned, and after revision, and with such additions as would contribute to the completeness of the work, they are now collected, in larger type, in the present volume and under a more suitable title.

It was thought best to treat the subject broadly, to begin with the fundamental principles of infection and resistance and to introduce the reader to the more complex conceptions of the present time by taking him briefly over the main historical and developmental steps.

It will be obvious that the views of Ehrlich, concerning the production of antibodies, the nature of the reactions into which the latter enter, and the methods by which bacteria produce disease, have been utilized extensively. This course demands no justification, when it is appreciated that by no other means can one at the present time correlate a multitude of well-established facts which hear on the problems of immunity. Whatever may be the eventual fate of the side-chain theory — and certain phases of it carry the aspect of finality — we should appreciate as much as possible the extent to which it has shaped modern thought, and recognize

PREFACE. v

that it has won an imperishable place in the history of biologic progress.

It should also be understood that the utilization of the side-chain theory in no sense carries with it a negation of the importance of phagocytosis, a fact which is plainly set forth on pages 212-215. Without doubt the role of the phagocytes in recovery from a large group of infections is on a better and truer basis than it has ever been before, and for this condition the recent work on opsonins has been most significant.

In relation to the grouping of the infectious diseases adopted in Part Two, attention is called to the explanatory paragraph on page 235.

It will be noted that a complete bibliography of the subject of immunity has not been added, and this needs no explanation to one who is conscious of the massive proportions of the literature. A critical analysis of the entire literature, which would not have been in harmony with the endeavor to present the topics briefly and clearly, and which would have made detailed references essential, has not been attempted. The works cited in the bibliography are largely analytic in character and carry with them more or less complete references, through which those who are so interested may reach the original sources easily. This is true particularly of the handbook of Kolle and Wasservi PREFACE.

mann and of the volume by Metchnikoff. Almost the entire fourth volume of the former is devoted to the subject of immunity, the enormous literature of which is analyzed by different persons of international repute. The most recent literature on the various subjects is accessible through the Index Medicus, or the index prepared semi-annually by The Journal of the American Medical Association.

The index at the close of this volume serves as a glossary of terms, the explanations of which may be found on the pages referred to.

H. T. Eicketts.

Chicago, February, 1906.

Principles of Serum Therapy 218-234

PART TWO-SPECIAL. Group I. — Acquired Immunity Is Chiefly Antitoxic

A. — Bacterial Diseases:

Botulism 256-259

Bacillus Pyocyaneus 259-262

Otner Soluble Bacterial Toxins 262

B. — Intoxication by Soluble Plant Toxins:

Hay Fever 262-264

Other Plant Toxins 264

C. — Intoxication by Soluble Animal Toxins:

Poisoning by Snake Bites 264-268

Other Zootoxins 268

, Group II. — Acquired Immunity Is Chiefly Antibacterial.

Paratyphoid Fever 284-288

Acute Epidemic Dysentery 288-294

COXTEXTS. ix

Meat Poisoning by Bacillus Enteritidis 294-298

Bacillus Coli Communis 298-304

Malta Fever 333-335

Group III. — Acute Ixfectioxs ix Which Lastixg Immunity Is Xot Established.

Pneumococcus Infections — Pneumonia 336-349

Streptococci 349-370

Staphylococci 370-383

Micrococcus Catarrhalis 383-384

Gonorrhea and Other Infections with the Gono-

Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis 388-393

Soft Chancre 399-401

Bacillus of Friedlander and Other Members of

the Capsule-Forming Group 401-402

Relapsing Fever 403-406

Group IV. — Chronic Ixfectioxs ix Which Lastixg Immunity Is Xot Established.

Glanders 452-458

Rhinoscleroma 458

Madura Foot 462

Infections by Streptothrix, Cladothrix and Lepto-

thrix 463

Group V. — Diseases of ProtozoOx Etiology.

•Spotted Fever"" of the Rocky Mountain Stales. .497-498 Texas Fever as an Example of Pyroplasmosi *. . .499-500 Amebic Dysentery 500-504 x CONTENTS.

Sarcosporidia 504

Balantidium Coli 505

Cercoinonas Intestinalis 50G

Trichomonas 507

Coccidiosis 508

Group VI. — Diseases of Doubtful or Unknown Etiology.

Syphilis 522-529

Typhus Fever 538

Dengue Fever 539-541

Acute Articular Rheumatism 541

Smallpox and Vaccinia 541-555

Chickenpox (Varicella) 555

Scarlet Fever 556-559

Measles 559-562

German Measles (Kotheln) 502

Whooping Cough ' 562-56G

Mumps 566

Appendix 567-57 1

Bibliography 572

Corrections 600