474 State Boakd of AduicuLTunE, &c. 



But we will leave the vegetable world, and give a few 

 instances from the animal. 



Among the brute creation, we find these same " germs " 

 present in many of the niost fatal diseases, like glanders in 

 the horse, murrain in the ox, and foot disease in the sheep ; 

 and, no doubt, fui'ther researches will show their presence in 

 all epidemic or infectious diseases of the brute creation. 



One more illustration, and, to many present, the sul)ject 

 will awaken sad memories. But, as the disease is so well 

 known, and its cause has been so carefully studied and 

 described by patient observers, that I do not feel like omit- 

 ting to mention it. 



In diphtheria, the false membrane so characteristic of 

 this disease has been shown by Yertet and others to be 

 composed almost entirely of bacteria. These not only 

 make up the membrane, but pervade the whole system, 

 and make up, by their presence, the large swelling of the 

 parts near the favorite point of attack, and either causing 

 death by obstructing the circulation or by causing paralysis 

 of the heart. 



Again, we see these, or kindred organisms, present in 

 dysentery, cholera infantum, and, in fine, it would be dif- 

 ficult to mention a single infectious disease in which the 

 microscope does not surprise us by its revelations ; and I 

 have no doubt but that, in the near future, the cause of all 

 infectious, and all epidemic disease, will be found and 

 ackowledged by all observers to be " specific germs " — like 

 producing like. 



And in view of the fact that we have but little, if any- 

 thing, to hope from treatment by any known remedies, wo 



