258 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



an illness suggesting tuberculosis, it may be inferred that the 

 patient is suffering from tuberculosis which is active or has 

 recently been so. 



3. A persistently normal index to the tubercle bacillus 

 would be taken as evidence against the case being of a 

 tubercular nature. 



An attempt has been made in this paper to show the reader 

 one of the lines along which our knowledge of bacterial 

 infections has advanced, and to indicate to him how our power 

 of control over these infections has recently been increased. 

 But this has not been the only object in view. The intention 

 has been to signify that medicine is on the threshold of a new 

 era in which science will hold the chief place ; that it is from 

 the laboratory that further advances in medical knowledge are 

 to be expected. The great problems still remain unsolved ; 

 we need mention only consumption and cancer in proof of 

 this ; but careful scientific researches are being made in many 

 places and in many directions, and the results already attained 

 promise well for the future. 



The chemist, the physiologist, the pathologist (the latter 

 nowadays almost synonymous with bacteriologist) will be the 

 physicians of the future, and it is to their efforts that men may 

 look with increasing hope for new and greater victories over 

 the terrible power of disease. 



