While K. Fujita, of Tokyo's Medical and Dental University, was studying tropical diseases in Borneo, he was amazed to discover how remarkably healthy the children were, despite the heavy loads of parasites they carried. Fujita asked himself what seems like a ridiculous question: Could some parasites actually promote good health?
Ensnared by this thought, he tested the idea by introducing a tapeworm into his own gut. Both Fujita and tapeworm did well. So well, that Fujita now hosts four thriving tapeworms!
Fujita wonders why his colleagues are not interested in his experiment. They don't invite him to their meetings anymore.
(Anonymous; New Scientist, p. 116, New Scientist, February 24, 2001.)
