Phylogenetic association in relation to certain medical problems / [by] George W. Crile. Ether day address, 1910.

  • Crile, George Washington, 1864-1943.
Date:
[1910]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Phylogenetic association in relation to certain medical problems / [by] George W. Crile. Ether day address, 1910. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    Natural Selection and Chemical Noci-association in the Infections. Heretofore we have considered the behavior of the individual as a whole in response to a certain type of noci-influences. We have been thinking in terms of physical escape from gross physical dangers, or grap- pling with gross nerve-muscular enemies of the same or of other species, as related to some problems in medicine. To explain these phenomena we have invoked the aid of the laws of natural selection and phylogenetic association. If our conclusions are cor- rect, then it should follow that in the same laws we can find the explanation of immunity, which, of course, means a defensive response to our microscopic enemies. There should be no more difficulty in building up by natural selection an efficient army of phagocytes, or specific chemical reactions against microscopic enemies, than the building up of the various noci-ceptors for our muscular defense against our gross enemies. That immunity is a chemical reaction is no hindrance to the application of the law of natural selection nor of association. What essential differ- ence is there between the chemical defense of the skunk against its nerve-muscular enemies and its chemical defense (immunity) against its microscopic enemies ? The administration of vaccines becomes the ade- quate stimuli by phylogenetic association of a chem- ical nature whereby immune bodies are produced. While mentioning this subject I will only raise the question whether or not the specific character of the inaugural symptoms of some infectious diseases may not be due to phylogenetic association. These in- augural symptoms are measurably a recapitulation of