Nature of Disease-Producing Viruses

Abstract

TWICE recently I have noticed in the columns of NATURE criticism of the hypothesis that disease-producing viruses are intermediate between molecule and living cell because no non-parasitic forms are known. Until viruses can be known other than by the effects of their parasitism, it would seem to be quite impossible to detect corresponding bodies that are not parasitic. I agree with the critics that if such bodies exist they may be much more numerous than the viruses, but until some method is devised by which the constituents of the viruses can be recognised, it would seem to be useless to look for them. For the hypothetical intermediate combining molecular structure, metabolism, and reproduction, I have been using the designation vitamol.