24 VETERINARY BACTERIOLOGY 



had been well formulated and established. The rapid accumula- 

 tion of evidence in favor of the germ theory gave rise to the art 

 of preventive medicine. Lister (1875) advocated the use of 

 antiseptics in the treatment of wounds and wound infection as a 

 direct method of combating the activity of undesirable bacteria. 

 The discovery of the means of transmission in most of the infectious 

 diseases has enabled man to take measures for their eradication. 

 Yellow fever, malaria, diphtheria, bubonic plague, and many other 

 diseases are now kept in check by the use of preventive measures 

 indicated by our knowledge of the manner in which they spread. 

 It is probable that greater advance will be made within the next 

 few years in the domain of preventive medicine, for mankind 

 is fast coming to realize that prevention is better than cure. 



