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LETTERS TO AND FROM
LEE MOORE
From Professor Harvey
Dear Dr. Moore
Thank you for your letter received on 9
December concerning your earlier
"Letter to the Editor". I appreciate your
positive comments about Toxicon
and its role in stimulating research on
snake venoms. However, I do not
think that Toxicon is the appropriate
place for your letter.
The letter describes in detail the
administration of various venoms by
yourself and records some of the
consequences. It is intended to show the
development of active immunity.
However, there is no objective evidence
for the production of relevant antibodies
and, fortunately, you have not
been subjected to bites by cobras and
mambas. The lack of serious
consequences following the rattlesnake bite
is intriguing, but it does not
by itself demonstrate active immunity.
With both original reviewers (both
clinicians) expressing concerns about
the possible encouragement to potentially
lethal self-experimentation, I
stand by the decision not to publish your
letter.
Yours sincerely
Alan Harvey |
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