82 The Story of the Bacteria 



together, that they are frequently present in 

 other bacterial diseases which they may 

 seriously complicate. 



The effects which the pyogenic as well as 

 other disease-inducing bacteria may produce 

 in the body vary considerably under different 

 conditions. Sometimes the general state of 

 the body is such that it seems to furnish very 

 favorable soil for their proliferation or is 

 especially vulnerable to their action. Some- 

 times the particular germs which gain access 

 seem to be especially virulent, perhaps from 

 their inherent vigor or from conditions which 

 we know nothing about. We are in these 

 diseases dealing with poisons for the human 

 body, but with self -propagating poisons which 

 from an almost infinitesimal amount may grow 

 to such quantities as in the end can fairly 

 overwhelm it. 



The habits of scrupulous cleanliness afford 

 our best protection against the intrusions of 

 these germs. In vigorous general health lies 

 our strongest resistance to their incursions. 



