56 THE GERM THEORY OF DISEASE. 



LISTER'S REPLY. 



This was evidently regarded by Mr. Lister as a very ex- 

 treme view. And he replied, speaking very strongly against 

 the conclusions reached by Prof. Volkman, Klebs, and some 

 others. He says, "But, gentlemen, while I am more than 

 ever convinced of the relations of micro-organisms to disease 

 processes in wounds, I propose to utter, this morning, what 

 seems to me to be a needed note of warning against a tend- 

 ency to exaggeration in this direction. This exaggeration, 

 if such there be, is largely due to the success of the anti- 

 septic treatment." 



After speaking of the certain success of the antiseptic 

 treatment of wounds, and the banishment of septicaBinia, 

 pyaBtnia, hospital gangrene, etc., he says, " Such success pro- 

 ceeding from a mode of treatment designed especially to 

 exclude bacteria, may suggest that all inflammations are due 

 to micro-organisms, and that suppuration, acute or chronic, 

 is always due to similar agencies. Gentlemen, I believe this 

 to be a very exaggerated view of the matter, and a view 

 which may tend to have a serious influence on our practice." 



" For example, if we believe inflammations are due only 

 to the invasions of microscopic organisms, to what purpose 

 do we employ counter-irritation." 



Mr. Lister then goes on to show that inflammation does 

 arise, in very many instances, without the aid of micro-organ- 

 isms, and from a variety of causes, both in wounds and sepa- 

 rate from wounds. That abscesses form, and pus forms, in 

 many instances, under circumstances that exclude bacteria. 

 Also, that strict search has shown the pus, under such cir- 

 cumstances, to be free from bacteria. 



