128 THE GERM THEORY OF DISEASE. 



which is thrown out from the organism. Again, in the matter 

 of sepsis, already referred to, it has been abundantly shown 

 that the fluids contaminated by the micrococci are poisonous, 

 when separated from the organisms; thus proving, again, that 

 there is an organic poison developed, which is fully capable of 

 producing its effects in the absence of the life that produced 

 it, the same as is seen in the alkaloids from the higher plants. 

 This has taken the name of sepsin, after the order of the 

 naming of the vegetable poisons ; although it has not, as yet, 

 been properly isolated and examined. 



