APPENDIX E. cxxv 



treatment (good as it may be, irrespective of the germ-theory 

 on which it has been based) pressed upon our attention on 

 the assumption that the germs of putrefaction and the germs 

 of disease are living organisms similar in nature. The 

 strange persistency with which this view is advocated is 

 not a little surprising when it entails the obvious contra- 

 diction that germs which do, under all ordinary circumstances, 

 develop into well-known organic forms, should, when con- 

 cerned in the production of the diseases in question, induce all 

 the effects supposed to depend upon their prodigious growth 

 and multiplication, and yet never develop, never become visible. 

 And whilst Bacteria^ and other organisms with which the 

 unknown disease-germs are compared, flourish and reproduce 

 in the much-vaunted germ-killing carbolised lotions ^ yet 

 carbolic acid continues to be recommended solely on ac- 

 count of its germ-killing powers, and the theory on which 

 the practice is based is thought to derive support from the 

 results obtained by the use of this agent. Surely no theory 

 could be weaker on which to base a successful method of 

 treatment ; and if, as its distinguished originator says ^, its 

 general acceptance is principally hindered by the ' doubt of 

 its fundamental principle,' then I would deliberately say that 



of new forms not now in existence.* This is undoubtedly a very much 

 less objectionable form of the ' genn-theory,' though much additional 

 evidence would be needed before we could accept the view that conta- 

 gious diseases are due to the rapid multiplication of the contagious 

 particles within the body of the creature affected. The non-contagious- 

 ness of the blood (see next page) is as irreconcileable with this as with 

 the other form of the ' germ-theory.' 



^ See Note i. p. xlvi. And in a recently published paper ' On the Rela- 

 tive Powers of Various Substances in Preventing the Generation of Ani- 

 malcules or the Development of their Germs,' Dr. Dougall says, ' If, as is 

 alleged, germs are the source of putrefaction, then the strongest preven- 

 tives mus,t be the best antiseptics, and vice versa. Now, as seen in the 

 table, carbolic acid occupies a very mediocre place as a preventive, 

 therefore it is legitimate to conclude that it stands no higher as an anti- 

 septic ' (p. 13). 



2 'British xVledical Journal,' August 26, 1871, p. 225. 



