The Microscopic Germ Theory of Disease. By H. C. Bastian. 11 
the most varied situations, and also in diseased fluids, is explicable 
most easily by assigning for many of them an origin by hetero- 
genesis and by archebiosis (though when so produced they multiply 
rapidly in the ordinary fashion) ; and that my position — that 
bacteria are pathological products — is one which may claim to have 
been fairly established. 
On this subject I would only add a word or two concerning the 
point of view and reasoning employed by those who seem willing to 
believe in almost any infringement of natural uniformity rather 
than admit the occurrence of heterogenesis and archebiosis, or 
either of them alone. The most remarkable recent utterances on 
this subject are those of Dr. Sanderson, though it is only fair to say 
that they are somewhat typical of the line of argument adopted by 
many others. 
Whilst admitting that bacteria in their “ ordinary state ” have 
been proved to be killed at a temperature of 140 J F., and also by 
immersion in absolute alcohol, Dr. Sanderson assumes that other 
bacteria germs may exist in an extraordinary state, in which they 
have the power of resisting the influence of this temperature, the 
influence of absolute alcohol, and even the simultaneous action of 
both these destructive agents. But if we ask on what amount of 
evidence this assumption is founded, many may be astonished to find 
that such an extraordinary belief has been adopted simply because 
bacteria make their appearance in an organic infusion which has 
been prepared by macerating an organic extract previously sub- 
mitted to the influences above mentioned — just as bacteria make 
their appearance within our closed flasks, whose contents have been 
previously heated to the higher temperature of 212 F. Has it 
ever occurred to Dr. Sanderson that another interpretation might 
have saved him from the necessity of adopting this extraordinary 
belief ? 
Again, in his third lecture, the same investigator shows himself 
for the time similarly oblivious of the point of view of those who 
believe in archebiosis, whilst the argument made use of to support 
his own position is of a very surprising nature. After remarking * 
that “ of all perishable things, protoplasm is amongst the most 
perishable,” he goes on to state that bacteria possess “ a wonderful 
property of passing into a state of persistent inactivity or latent 
vitality.” This is nothing more than an explicit expression of the 
notion previously referred to, though I wish especially to call 
attention to the additional “ evidence ” upon which the view is now 
based. Dust, containing organic debris, in which, as Dr. Sanderson 
confesses, he has no proof that anything living is contained, may be 
added to a fluid at the time barren, though freely capable of sup- 
porting life. One of the results of this addition is the appearance, 
* ‘ British Medical Journal,’ March 27, p. 403. 
