3o THE MICROSCOPE. 



body, as abscesses in diabetic patients are swarming with micro- 

 cocci. 



The important and practical question is, to what extent the 

 bacteria which are found in the tissues during certain morbid condi- 

 tions are to be considered as the cause of the conditions with which 

 they are associated. 



In order to set this question at rest it must be demonstrated by 

 culture of the bacteria found to exist in the diseased person, and 

 the induction of the same disease in healthy animals by inoculation 

 with a reproduction of the bacteria. The question to-day rests 

 about as follows: 



Diseases, the demonstration of the bacterial origin of which has 

 been completed through inoculation with isolated bacteria by com- 

 petent observers: anthrax. 



Diseases, the bacterial origin of which has been affirmed after 

 inoculation with isolated bacteria by one competent observer: tuber- 

 culosis. 



Diseases which are always characterized by the presence of bac- 

 teria in the tissues, but which had not been induced by inoculation 

 with isolated bacteria: pyaemia, diphtheria, erysipelas, etc. 



Diseases in which after death bacteria have been found in the 

 tissues: variola, scarlatina, typhoid fever, etc. 



Diseases in which the presence of bacteria before and after 

 death have been asserted: syphilis, typhus fever, intermittent fever 

 measles, etc. 



Bacillus Tuberculosis. — When we look at the past, and the 

 present, the credulity of the medical profession appears somewhat 

 strange. We constantly have new discoveries, which, if true, would 

 work important changes in our practice; but they are frequently 

 worthless, and after a short life, vanish as the dew in the morning 

 sun. And we are constantly imposed upon by new remedies. It 

 was only a few years since, we were taught that carbolic acid 

 would cure almost any disease; and if it failed in curing the disease, 

 a judicious application of it after death would suspend chemical 

 action, and the body would show no tendency to decay. We have 

 had specifics for cancer, specifics for phthisis pulmonalis, and specifics 

 for other diseases, which were apparently well established by experi- 

 ment and observation; but upon trial in our every-day practice, we 



