160 THERAPEUTICS AND PHARMACOLOGY 



Moreover, I should like to remind you that, for example, in the 

 toxicological processes in poisoning with carbolic acid we were 

 entirely unable to foresee that the sulphuric acid of the organism 

 forms with the carbolic acid a complex sulphuric acid, which, being 

 non-poisonous, arrests the toxic effects of the carbolic acid. 



Starting from this consideration, it does not appear strange that 

 a number of substances which, even when much diluted, have a 

 destructive effect on bacteria, manifest when taken up into the 

 system no trace of disinfecting power, such as, for instance, phenol 

 itself and corrosive sublimate in cases of anthrax. 



The simplest example that the discovery of the cause of disease 

 is by no means decisive in therapeutics may be seen in the develop- 

 ment of the trichina. It is a humiliating fact that we are entirely 

 powerless against this enemy. Even the female trichinae developing 

 in the intestine after the consumption of meat infected with these 

 parasites cannot be made innocuous by any known anthelmintic, 

 and we are not even able to expel these intestinal trichinae by means 

 of purgatives. The embryos wander irrevocably into the muscular 

 tissues to destroy the organism, or by encapsulation remain per- 

 manently in the man or animal. Even in this process of calcification 

 of the trichinae we are quite powerless to intervene. 



The nineteenth century has been distinguished by the discovery 

 of the causes of disease. But this does not give us means of "curing/' 

 As the history of therapeutics, however, shows that in the case of 

 serious maladies, such as syphilis and malaria, the remedies have 

 been found long before the recognition of their cause, we must con- 

 tinue to search for remedies independently of the causes of disease. 

 So far the knowledge of morbific agents has been more important 

 for prevention than for cure. 



On the other hand, remedies like iodoform are entirely ineffective 

 on bacteria outside the system, whereas after the entrance of this 

 substance into the cells an energetic force is opposed to the invaders. 

 As in every observation we must be careful not to draw too far- 

 reaching conclusions, because the possibility of reactions taking 

 place outside of the organism may also hold good within it, as, for 

 instance, in the treatment of lead-poisoning. Therapeutics, thanks 

 to Melsens, celebrated a great triumph here, for the iodine of the 

 iodide of potassium administered in this disease combines with 

 the lead united to the albumen molecules, forming iodide of lead, 

 and can then leave the body dissolved in the alkaline juices of the 

 organism, and thus bring about a cure. 



It may be said, in passing, that in the case of many active sub- 

 stances specific chemical processes take place as are, for instance, 

 seen, in phosphorus poisoning. Phosphorus, though usually so 

 easily oxidized, when absorbed, is not oxidized quickly enough by 



