DEVELOPMENT OF THE MICROBE-KILLER. 51 



knew that I had something which could not hurt me, 

 and I persevered steadily. I knew from my garden ex- 

 perience how difficult it is to get rid of weeds and to 

 cure plants of blight and fungi, especially when they 

 have been allowed to get ahead and to increase and flou- 

 rish undisturbed. 



My blood must have been teeming with microbes 

 which had been propagating and increasing for years, 

 and it would have been folly for me to expect to get rid 

 of them in less than twelve months. My disease had 

 become chronic. It had remained so long that it had 

 almost grown to be a part of my system, a part of my 

 constitution, and it is always difficult to eradicate any 

 disease in that condition. But I had hope, and my hope 

 had grown into confidence. All my experiments came 

 back to me now and assured me that I was in the way 

 to get well, if such a way existed. So I went on, and 

 so favorable was my progress that at the end of three 

 months I felt almost a new man. I was considerably 

 better. I had no longer any attacks of rheumatism, and 

 the fever had abated so much that I felt only the slightest 

 symptoms of its approach. Sometimes I laughed to my- 

 self at the extraordinary cure, and at the thought that 

 a disease that had defied all physicians, all drugs and 

 remedies that could be suggested, all the advice of 

 friends and the rubbings of massage doctors, should be 

 got rid of by drinking water. My appetite became so 

 ravenous, and my digestive powers so strong, that I 

 could eat several pounds of meat daily, and it increased 

 my strength rapidly. My nervous prostration ceased, 

 my energies returned, no pains annoyed me, I slept well, 

 my mind became more acute, and there was every evi- 

 dence of an improved condition and much enrichment of 

 the blood. Of course my friends could not fail to observe 

 the change, but for a time they were puzzled to think 

 what was the matter with me. I kept the matter secret 

 for a long time, for I did not wish to offend my friends 

 or disturb the equanimity of the good doctors who had 

 so long and so faithfully administered to the welfare of 



