Scientists may feel that there are too many meetings these days, and we tend to agree on this until it comes to our own field of interest. In our own areas we would like to hear about other people's achievements and learn whatever may be helpful in the search for answers to our own pet questions. Exchange of ideas, discussions, and critical evaluations are almost as essential to progress as the actual laboratory work. These were the major motives which initiated our own efforts, with the support of Dr. Earle H. Spaulding, the Chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Temple...

The study of endotoxins has undergone cycles of enthusiastic research followed by neglect and revival again due to newly described biological effects attributed to endotoxins. It is almost a generally applicable rule that both extremes in such fluctuations in the popularity of certain re- search fields are unjustified. It is obvious that exaggerated expectations will lead to disappointments, and complete neglect of a once-exciting field is to be followed by renewed attention, if the scientific basis of earlier interest was solid and remained so throughout. The healing ef- fect of fever was...