DOCTRINE OF A CONTAGIUM VIVUM. 39 



of the various contagia commonly existing around us ; we are also 

 becommg more and more familiar with the actions of the large 

 class of disinfectants by which they may be either destroyed or 

 arrested in their growth. When our knowledge of both contagia 

 and germicides is more complete we may hope that, not only will 

 preventive medicine have achieved greater triumphs than at 

 present, but curative measures will be found, by which the active 

 contagious diseases may be arrested in their progress. 



The means at our disposal, by which the contagious diseases, 

 as a class, may be avoided or controlled, may be grouped under 

 five heads : — 



I. — Keeping out of their way. Absence of body is in this 

 case better than presence of mind. But do not let us fall into the 

 common error of having an undue fear of contagion. People 

 suppose that medical men have some magical power of warding 

 off contagia from themselves and their families ; they have no 

 such talisman : they go where duty calls them, and take the risk. 



2. — Maintenance of the resistent energy of those who may be 

 exposed to contagion. We all know how important this is in a 

 disease like Phthisis, where the restoration of good digestion and 

 improvement in nutrition are far more important than measures 

 directed towards the destruction of the virus. 



3. — Destruction of the virus as it is discharged from the body. 

 Disinfection of the sputum, skin, faeces, etc. 



4. — Destruction of the virus within the body by internal dis- 

 infectants — local or general. 



5. — The avoidance of all food or drink which may have been 

 contaminated, or is uncooked. 



In the Cell produced directly by the zoospores of Synchy- 

 trhim Taraxici the nucleus has been found of 14/x and the 

 nucleolus 8^. Shortly after this size has been attained division 

 commences, resulting in the production of from 150 to 300 nuclei 

 in the one cell. So says M. Dangeard, Comptes Rendus, cix., 

 1889, p. 202. 



