Re: diseases and immunity (TB addendum)
Gerold Firl (geroldf@sdd.hp.com)
10 Jul 1996 12:25:47 -0700
In article <4rv123$p91@dfw-ixnews5.ix.netcom.com> mbwillia@ix.netcom.com(Mary Beth Williams) writes:
>In <4ruo1k$enh@news.sdd.hp.com> geroldf@sdd.hp.com (Gerold Firl)
>writes:
>> Mcneill stated that symptoms of tubercular *meningitis* were observed.
>So that I don't erroneously accuse MacNeill of making inappropriate
>assertions, could you please provide a more detailed citation
>(including page number.)
I don't have _plagues and peoples_ with me here, but I believe the passage is
on p. 54, in a general discussion of the co-evolution of diseases and their
host population. Mcneill is using this example as an illustration of the
amelioration of virulence which *always* occurs when a new disease colonizes
a previously unexposed host population.
Note: we're not talking about acquired immunity here.
>It seems, once again, that you're claiming
>that either autopsies were performed on these *Canadian Indians* in
>*remote regions* during the 19th century, or that tubercular
>*meningitis* (an infection of the *meniges*, which do not make the
>transition from *wet* to *dry* intact) is visible in the skeletal
>record.
>
>Which is it?
I am not making either claim, and never have. I don't know when the incident
took place, nor do I know how the diagnosis of TB was made. I am simply
reporting what I saw in _plagues and peoples_. It would be nice if mcneill
had provided more background, but he didn't. To get that, we'll have to look
at the rene dubos book I cited earlier.
--
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Disclaimer claims dat de claims claimed in dis are de claims of meself,
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=---- Gerold Firl @ ..hplabs!hp-sdd!geroldf
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