CXXlV THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE, 



condition, but whose presence as invisible, non-developing 

 germs is constantly postulated, solely on the ground of the 

 occurrence of certain effects supposed to be otherwise 

 incapable of occurring. That, if existent, they are no mere 

 ordinary germs of known organisms is obvious, because 

 their presence has again and again been shown to be 

 incapable of producing the diseases in question. Mr. 

 Forster says,^ ' There is not perhaps on the face of the 

 earth a human creature who lives on coarser fare, or to a 

 civilised people more disgusting, than a Kalmuck Tartar. 

 Raw putrid fish or the flesh of carrion — horses, oxen and 

 camels — is the ordinary food of the Kalmucks, and they are 

 more active and less susceptible of the inclemency of the 

 weather than any race of men I have ever seen ^.' It has, 

 moreover, been frequently demonstrated, that the organisms 

 of ordinary putrefactions may be introduced even into the 

 blood of man and animals without the production of any of 

 these specific diseases^. Yet is the ' Antiseptic System ' of 



^ See ' Med.-Chirurg. Rev.,' 1854, vol. xiii, where the supposed con- 

 nection of diseases with processes of putrefaction is ably considered by 

 the late Dr. W. Alison. 



^ The Bacteria which are sure to be abundant in such food cannot, 

 therefore, be the much talked-of ' disease-germs.' Such a diet is, of course, 

 by no means recommended, and could probably only be borne in certain 

 climates by persons who lead a very active life. Epidemic diseases are 

 frequently most fatal when they once break out amongst a people whose 

 diet is of this kind. (See Dr. Carpenter, in ' Med.-Chirurg. Rev.,' 1853, 

 vol. xi. p. 173.) 



^ See, amongst others, Davaine in ' Comptus Rendus,' Aug. 1 864, and 

 E. Semmer in Virchow's 'Archives,' 1870. Dr. Lionel Beale is well aware 

 of this fact, and he, accordingly, whilst adhering to the ' germ-theory,' 

 promulgates it under a new form. He says (' Monthly Microsc. Journ.,' 

 Oct. 1870, p. 205): — 'Concerning the conditions under which these 

 germs are produced, and of the manner in which the rapidly multiplying 

 matter acquires its new and mai-vellous specific powers, we have much to 

 learn, but with vegetable organisms the germs have nothing to do. They 

 have originated in man's organism. Man himself has imposed the con- 

 ditions favourable to their development. Man alone is responsible for 

 their origin. Human intelligence, energy, and self-sacrifice may succeed 

 in extirpating them, and may discover the means of preventing the origin 



