immu'nity

[L. immunitas.] A state, natural or acquired, in which the body is resistant to disease. acquired' i., i. obtained by an individual in consequence of having suffered an attack of a pathogenic organism of normal or modified virulence, or of its toxin, and having overcome it (aciivei.), or as a result of the injection of the serum of an animal which has acquired an active immunity against the organism in question (pa ive i.); mixed i. is a succe ion of pa ive and active i. obtained by serovaccination.* ac'tive i., see acquired i. ac'tual i., active i. lo'cal i., a, natural or acquired of certain regions, organs, or ti ues, as of the muscles against tuberculosis. mixed i., see acquired i. nat'ural i., i. po e ed by all the individuals of a cla , by reason of age, racial peculiarity, or other general characteristic. pas's ive!., see acquired i. rel'ative i., an i. which may be due to a reduction of avidity of the body cells for the specific poison, or to a deviation or lo of complement in the blood.