How do our bodies fight disease? Written in clear accessible style this book gives an account of the inner workings of our immune systems. Aimed at the general reader it looks at fascinating areas of science including fever, AIDS and cancer. Central to the book, from which the title derives, is the idea that in the war against disease our bodies sacrifice millions of cells - antibodies and other specialized elements of the immune system. Only by pitting all manner of complex immune cells against such infectious agents can we continue to survive in the world. Of interest to anyone who has wondered what is really happening when we get ill and recover.