476 State Board of Agriculture, &c. 



port of the " germ theory." Hence the deduction that the 

 cause of disease is made up of several factors. And to 

 recapituhite : 



First — We will suppose a person somewhat weakened by 

 overwork or some other cause. Then, to have a case that 

 shall present as few chances of recovery as possible, let the 

 air be loaded with the emanations of decaying animal and 

 vegetable matter ; then, let the person take into the system 

 the " germ " of some disease, and (my word for it,) we 

 shall witness a set of phenomena that should lead us to 

 inquire into the causes, and, further, the means of pre- 

 vention. 



And just here it occurs to me to say that many of our 

 most dangerous diseases, like pneumonia, diphtheria and 

 scarlet fever, are not supposed by some to be infectious. 

 The reason for this may be found in the fact that, of all 

 diseases, these are the most easily communicated. And it is 

 no exaggeration to say that there is no proof that a case of 

 typhoid fever or any other acute disease ever originates 

 " de novo.-' 



How these germs are carried from one place to another 

 .may be a proper subject of inquiry. 



If we place an open dish, containing water that has been 

 distilled, in a warm situation, we shall see it, in a short 

 time, become cloudy, and the microscope will reveal the 

 existence of innumerable livino; oro-anisms. 



Now these germs must have come from the air ; and, 

 further, such observers as Tyndall and others tell us that 

 they are unable to find any pure air except in the air cells 



of the lunge. 



