INFECTION AND DISINFECTION. 765 



will deny the right and duty of Government to look out for itself. 

 Self-preservation is a law that applies to governments as well as to 

 individuals. Any factors that threaten the stability of organized soci- 

 ety, threaten at the very same time the very existence of governments. 

 Hence, when scientific and hygienic laws show that certain environ- 

 ments degrade and degenerate men, they must be prevented, although 

 appearing to interfere with the liberty of the subject. No legal shib- 

 boleth must be allowed to stand in the way of such action. Govern- 

 ment in its function of preserving itself, and looking out for the best 

 good of the majority, must prevent a minority from living in any way 

 it can take cognizance of that plainly lessens their health and effi- 

 ciency. 



In spite of caste, society is homogeneous. One section can not 

 suffer long without affecting all. If one part is much diseased, the 

 healthy part will sooner or later feel the infection. More equable 

 health will equalize opportunity. Political communism is a dream of 

 agitators. The toiling, weary, worsted masses look in vain to such a 

 chimera. Deliverance must come from within. Our popular agitators 

 are impatient of a few weeks' delay in righting the wrongs of society. 

 Reform of this kind that is measured by months is superficial and 

 uncertain. Nature in progressing is prodigal of time, but operates 

 with certainty and thoroughness. 



INFECTION AND DISINFECTION. 



By EOBSON EOOSE, M. D. 



THE enormous variety of subjects contained in medical literature 

 necessitates the use of a corresponding number of terms, the ma- 

 jority of which have a certain and well-known meaning ; but it would 

 be difficult to find two words more wanting in the element of precision, 

 and more loosely used, than those placed at the head of this article. 

 The general public, indeed, solve all difficulties by connecting with the 

 word infection the idea of something " catching," i. e., something that 

 can be propagated from one person to another, and disinfection is cor- 

 respondingly regarded as the means whereby such propagation can be 

 hindered. It must be admitted that this simple view is quite correct 

 so far as it goes. It of course disregards all questions as to the nature 

 of infection, and the reason why some diseases spread from person to 

 person and others do not, and it accepts without doubt the belief that 

 disinfection is generally attainable, and by comparatively simple means. 

 In cases especially where the use of some welhadvertised material is 

 found to neutralize or mask an unpleasant odor, the completeness of 

 the disinfection is looked upon as absolutely certain. 



In medical writings the confusion has been still further increased 



