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Abstract: Only one Great ape survived World War II, the female Chimpanzee „Suse“. 1951 a male Chimpanzee – called „Jonny“ – came by an animal dealer to the zoo, and one year later the first offspring (1,0 „Sam“) was born. Other births occurred 1963, 1966 and 1971, and later on in another group 1988, 1989 and 1990. „Sam“ reached an age of nearly 49 years. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this essay is to show that there are no easy options for those who are disturbed by the suggestion that infanticide may on occasion be morally permissible. The belief that infanticide is always wrong is doubtfully compatible with a range of widely shared moral beliefs that underlie various commonly accepted practices. Any set of beliefs about the morality of abortion, infanticide and the killing of animals that is internally consistent and even minimally credible will therefore unavoidably contain some beliefs that are counterintuitive.

It has now been known for 40 years that the particular liver disease which has been called "icterus catarrhalis" in former times is being caused by virus infection. Before that, Virchow's thesis ("occlusion of the papilla by mucus"), and later on Eppinger's thesis ("serous hepatitis due to intoxication by unidentified protein break-down products") were held to be true. Only after liver biopsy was introduced became it known that this particular disease is in fact an inflammatory process. Since neither bacteria nor protozoa could be found, it had to be assumed that viruses were the positive agents. It then took another 30 years until two viruses causing hepatitis (A and B) could be identified. The most important steps in this process of identification were: (1) proof of the oral and parental route of infection by Voegt in Germany and by American authors (following yellow fever vaccination in the US Army); (2) detection of the Australia (HBS) antigen by Blumberg; and (3) transfer of the infectious disease to monkeys. In conclusion, the present day status of hepatitis research (virology, epidemiology, immunology) is presented and chances of prevention are discussed.