Each year the list of substances harmless for the majority of human beings but responsible for the production of unpleasant symptoms and lesions in others is constantly increasing, so that cases of hypersensitiveness are now known to appear in every specialty in medicine and are of growing clinical interest and importance. This is especially true since there is also an increasing appreciation of the fact that certain symptoms hitherto variously explained may be due to this unsuspected state in some persons.
TERMINOLOGY
Unfortunately, a rather large list of names has been given to this condition, which may prove confusing to many practitioners. Probably the best known is that of "anaphylaxis," coined by Richet, to mean without protection, or the opposite to prophylaxis. From this standpoint it is a good name for the persons who acquire hypersensitiveness instead of a resistance or immunity to serum or other substances.
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