So DIFFICUL TY IN A CCEPTING 



where contagious diseases are unknown, as well as 

 where they are rife. Their sparing or abundant multi- 

 plication varies with altering temperature, moisture, 

 and other conditions, and does not always coincide 

 with the fluctuation of disease. If vegetable germs 

 are the seeds of disease, the seeds are everywhere, 

 while in many instances the diseases are remarkable 

 for being particularly local. If these be disease germs, 

 they are present in all climes, while the diseases them- 

 selves are limited to certain definite regions. We 

 may cultivate the vegetable germs without producing 

 disease, and disease may be raging while there is no 

 evidence of a corresponding increase of the vegetable 

 organisms upon which it is supposed to depend. If 

 vegetable organisms are really the contagious particles, 

 it is hopeless to attempt to protect ourselves from their 

 invasion, and to talk of extirpating them would be 

 absurd, for were a particular species destroyed over 

 half England to-morrow, the next breath of wind would 

 bring multitudes of germs to take the place of those 

 which had been swept away. Nor should we stand 

 any chance of escaping then ravages, by leaving our 

 dwellings in cities, and taking up our abode in the 

 country, or by taking refuge even in the highest 

 mountains, or other sequestered places far away from 

 the haunts of men. Aiid if fungi are developed spon- 

 taneously, and disease germs consist of fungi, the 

 state of things is still worse, as in that case, if eradi- 

 cation were possible, it would be idle to attempt to 



