Significance of physicians’ society in Odessa in generation and formation of phagocytal (I.I. Mechnikov’s) theory (Dedicated to centenary of I.I. Mechnikov’s Nobel prise awarding)

Abstract: The history of Mechnikov's phagocytal theory of immunity deals with the physicians' Society in Odessa. As early as 1874 Mechnikov was elected to be a full member of the physicians' Society in Odessa. However his active participation in the work of the Society began later on, i.e. in the 80-ies of the XIX century, when Mechnikov formulated his phagocytal theory of immunity. The fact that he came to the physicians' Society in Odessa was quite logically and it characterizes Mechnikov as a scientist who searches for qualified auditorium to discuss his hypotheses. Mechnikov attended 34 meetings of the physicians' Society in Odessa and made 6 reports, devoted to proofs of phagocytal theory of immunity. Meetings of the physicians' Society in Odessa were the first auditorium where reports on the phagocytosis theory, suggested by Mechnikov, were thoroughly discussed, subjected to criticism and it promoted generation and formation of the theory that afterwards was internationally recognized. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/3017