Immunization against infectious disease

Mortality and morbidity from infectious diseases in the United States have declined more than 90 percent since 1900. Factors believed to be responsible for this decline include changes in the natural history of disease, sanitation, quarantine measures, control of nonhuman vectors, antibacterial drugs, and immunization. The contributions of each of these factors differ among the various infectious diseases; except for smallpox and diphtheria control, immunization had little effect until after World War II. The success of present and future immunization programs is endangered by public and physician complacency and by complex legal and ethical problems related to informed consent and responsibility for rare, vaccine-related injury.

Roast pig and scientific discovery. Part II

In Part I of "Roast Pig and Scientific Discovery" (American Review of Respiratory Disease, May 1977). I gave a classic instance of Chance, or Serendipity, as related by Charles Lamb in his "Dissertation upon Roast Pig." In this essay, Lamb tells how many centuries ago Bo-Bo, the Chinese swine-herd's son, stumbled upon the delicacy of roast pork when he accidentally burned down his father's house and barn and in the process roasted ("burnt") nine newly farrowed pigs. I then gave (A) eight examples in which chance speeded or completed a scientist's ongoing work and (B) five examples in which chance changed the direction of a scientist's work and pointed him toward a new goal. In Part II, I will give more examples of a change in direction of a scientist's work that resulted from chance, and speculate on the role of chance in speeding the advance of science.

Struggle against infection

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