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