"This book in its original form consisted of six lectures which the authors delivered at Cornell university in the spring term of 1942, namely, the Messinger lectures on the evolution of civilization."-- p. [v]
Bibliography at end of each chapter.
Foreword, by T. M. Rivers.--Virus diseases with particular reference to vaccinia, by T. M. Rivers.--Chemical structure and the mutation of viruses , by W. M. Stanley.--New hosts as a key to progress in plant virus disease research, by L. O. Kunkel.--Swine influenza, by R. E. Shope.--Human influenza, by F. L. Horsfall, Jr.--Viruses and tumors, by Peyton Rous