SCIENCE IN MEDICINE 



247 



and down with disastrous results. The ideal inoculation — a 

 cumulative action in the direction of the positive phase — is 

 unfortunately hardly ever achieved, so that it is most con- 

 venient to attempt to keep the patient's resistance above the 



Fig. 4. — Correct Inoculation. 



normal by allowing each inoculation to act as an independent 

 event. 



Now, to be able to treat any bacterial disease with 

 success, there are certain things of which we must take 

 cognisance. If possible, we must know (1) the particular 

 bacterial agent causing the disease ; (2) something which will 

 remove or counteract the offending agent ; (3) the " dose " of 

 the remedy employed ; and (4) we must be able to follow the 



Fig. 5. — Excessive Inoculation. 



effect of the drug, especially if, as is certainly the case in the 

 majority of instances, the remedy be not devoid of danger. 



(1) As regards the causative agent, we are now able in a 

 very large number of cases to say what bacteria are present. 

 The bacteriological examination of sputum, urine, pus, effusions, 

 etc., both by cultural methods and by microscopical inspection, has 

 met with a very large amount of success, and in competent hands 



