Note 906 — Chapter XVI · HISTORICAL SKETCH OF OUR KNOWLEDGE ON IMMUNITY

It would clearly be wrong to take one’s stand, in a purely scientific question, on a national point of view. But it is a still greater mistake to look at matters, in the investigation of problems which concern science only, from a personal point of view. This, however, is what has happened several times in the discussion of phagocytosis. Certain discontented students have attempted to avenge themselves by publishing works and criticisms directed against the theory of phagocytosis. Having no doubt as to the motive for these publications I consider myself fully justified in not referring to them in this book, in which I have taken an exclusively scientific point of view, and in which I have endeavoured to weigh as carefully as possible all criticisms and objections that have been directed against me.