5 08 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



author's ideas with clearness and fidelity. In these Principles" the 

 author's aim has been to present an attempt at a critical and comprehen- 

 sive exposition of bacteriology, based on scientific conceptions. In the 

 work are described first the structure and vital phenomena of bacteria, 

 and the most important pathogenic organisms, after which are discussed 

 the cause of infectious disease, the combating of the cause and immunity ; 

 the volume ending with a chapter on the history of bacteriology. 



From this enumeration of the contents of the book it may be gathered 

 that the general scope of these Principles of Bacteriology is mainly 

 pathological. Perhaps on this account it is all the more useful and 

 welcome in its English dress, for, if the doctrines enunciated are unac- 

 ceptable to professional dogmatists on disease, the statement of the 

 author's views cannot fail to act as a stimulus and a corrective. 



The main thesis or rather the leading idea running through the 

 whole is that disease is inherent in the internal organisation of man, 

 and disease germs merely act as liberating impulses. Disease is innate, 

 and only requires the advent of a morbific stimulus to set it free. This 

 doctrine, practically the converse of what now generally obtains, seem- 

 ingly tends to the view that the ideally perfect animal would be natu- 

 rally immune to disease, — a consummation devoutly to be wished. The 

 question of immunity is discussed at considerable length, and with con- 

 spicuous ability and clearness. In the chapter on the prevention of 

 infectious disease, the author's conception of disinfection is given ; he 

 would use methods of disinfection only for the purpose of preventing 

 disease. Disinfection can do no more than that ; and even where it is 

 successful it is " only where cleanliness is associated with it, for clean- 

 liness is the first and better half of disinfection." 



It is to be hoped that this common sense view will be universally 

 accepted, and that disinfectants may soon be estimated at their proper 

 value. Notwithstanding the somewhat polemical attitude adopted 

 towards certain schools of bacteriology, especially that of Koch, we are 

 not disposed to carp at the author's views, partly because they are sup- 

 ported by strong and cogent arguments, and partly because of the 

 flattering unction laid on " the wisdom of the moderate conceptions of 

 the English." In estimating the value of Prof. Hueppe's work, the time 

 when it was published (1895) must be taken into consideration. Since 

 then much has happened ; the plague (p. 268), so far from dwindling to 

 the vanishing point, has burst out anew, and the serum test has become 

 of daily application. But though the march of bacteriological facts has 

 been rapid, this will be found to detract but little from the value of the 

 doctrines inculcated in the Principles of Bacteriology, which, it may be 

 added, are marked by originality, a strong individuality, and a some- 

 what caustic style. We have said that the translation is excellent, but 

 we should have been glad not to have seen those anglicised continental- 

 isms, " obligatory " and " facultative." 



ElBLTOGRArHY. 



Baumgarten, P. v., & F. Tangl— Jahresbericht iiber die Fortschritte in der 

 Lehre von den pathogenen Mikroorganismen, nmfassend Bakterien, Pilze und 

 Protozoen. Jahrg. xiv. 189S, 1. Halfte, 384 pp. Braunschweig, 1900. 



Lee, A. B— Microtomist's Vade-Mecum. 5th edition, London, 1900, 532 pp. 



