Lack of Knowledge Versus

Abstract

Of all the achievements for which Dr. Thomas Francis will be remembered, none surpasses his contributions to the elucidation of the problem of influenza" As the first American to recover and to study influenza virus in the laboratory, Dr. Francis lit in his own hand the torch of discovery which still burns bright ‘y in the hands of others. When the first evidence of antigenic variation of the influenza A viruses was published in 1936¹ by Dr. Thomas Magill and Dr. Francis, it was received with incredulity by the London team of influenza workers of the Medical Research Council, Dr. Christopher Andrewes, Wilson Smith, and Patrick Laidlaw. The latter, however, exarnined their viruses by neutralization with a hyperimmune horse serum whereas the Rockefeller workers used a more specific rabbit serum. On such apparently small differences may turn matters of great lnoment, and the great importance both epidemiologically and immunologically of the antigenic diversity of both influenza viruses A and B is now recognised universally. Dr. Francis’ demonstration that subcutaneous immunization with influenza vaccine can protect against epidemic influenza was an equally significant finding. The reasons why vaccine has yet to provide control over the disease is argued below. In truth the pioneer observation was but the end of the beginning, and much hard work and faith is required even now after 26 more years. The inspiration of such men as Dr. Francis lives on in the lives of those whom they have influenced, and I count it a privilege and a source of pride to have been an assistant to Dr. Francis many years ago at the Rockefeller Institute, New York.