292 Dr. Edward E. Klein on Infectious Diseases. [Feb. 20, 



removed by surgical aid, as in tuberculosis of the bones and joints. 

 All who have followed the numerous cases treated in this manner 

 must agree that it is an immense advance on all previous methods of 

 treatment of some forms of lupus and of bone tuberculosis. 



After having shown you what an ernormous amount of accurate 

 knowledge about the nature and causation, about the prevention and 

 treatment of infectious diseases has been gained by the experimental 

 method and by this alone, it will hardly be credited that a number 

 of persons, as well-meaning as they are ill-instructed, are still main- 

 taining the contrary ; it is they who have succeeded in inducing 

 Parliament to pass a law restricting, if not in some cases altogether 

 prohibiting, the use of that method. This law is interfering with 

 research in this country to a large extent, and has even put a stigma 

 on those who are engaged in elucidating truths that are for the 

 benefit of mankind, and of the animals themselves. What can be of 

 greater benefit in the battle against diseases than the knowledge of 

 their causes and the devising of means for their prevention and 

 treatment ? 



Fortunately for progress in general, this country is the only one 

 in which such restrictions disfigure the statute-book ; other countries, 

 more enlightened and able to recognise the value of researches of this 

 kind, have wisely resisted the clamour for restrictions. 



In connection with all this knowledge, of which I have only been 

 able to give you an outline, I have heard it stated that " ignorance " 

 (meaning the ignorance of former times) " is bliss " as compared 

 with the present knowledge of the dangers surrounding us ; but I 

 have also heard it stated that the wise man, knowing and recognising 

 the nature of these dangers, has the possibility given him of avoiding 

 and preventing them, and no truer words have been spoken than 

 these, that "he who cures a disease may be the skilfullest, but he that 

 prevents it is the safest, physician." 



My best thanks are due to my friend Mr. Andrew Pringle for the 

 admirable photographs prepared by him of the microscopic slides 

 illustrating the different pathogenic microbes exhibited, and to my 

 friend and pupil Mr. Bousfield for the fine lantern slides of tube 

 cultivations. 



