thomas peebles from children with natural measles were injected into cultures of human kidney cells and incubated. with techniques like these being carried out today by dr. samuel katz, they are checked for any changes in the cells. obtaining even one successful growth of pure virulent measles virus is one of the most difficult laboratory achievements. finally, in 1954, one culture obtained from an 11-year-old measles patient begins to show remarkable changes in cell structure. these might be caused by the measles virus. dr. enders is called in to observe it. to prove that it is the measles virus, they decide to inject it into the only animal that will contract the disease, monkeys. monkeys, which have never been exposed to measles. in a few days, when the monkey develops measles, they have isolated and grown the strain of the measles virus. now, they discuss the longest and in many ways the most difficult task of all, how to attenuate or weakened the virus so that it will produce antibodies and provide immunity without transmitting the disease itself. it is a little like walking on a t