GERMS IN FL UIDS AND SECRE TIONS. r 3 3 



what we are able to demonstrate is of vast importance, 

 and with the aid of other observations and experi- 

 ments, we may form, I think, clear notions of the 

 nature and origin of these morbid poisons, and of the 

 manner in which they produce their marvellous and 

 oftentimes disastrous effects. Much yet remains to 

 be disclosed, but we shall soon learn more if we will 

 but work and think independently, and accept the 

 teaching of facts of observation and experiment, 

 while careful to avoid being misled by the dog- 

 matism of those who obstinately persist in assert- 

 ing that all vital phenomena are to be explained by 

 physics and chemistry, and try to make people 

 believe that living organisms are mere machines con- 

 structed by force. For all truly vital phenomena 

 must necessarily be altogether out of the range of 

 mere physical investigation ; nevertheless, to such ex- 

 travagant lengths has the opposite view been carried 

 of late, that it has even been seriously stated that he 

 who refuses to look upon life as mere inorganic force 

 opposes investigation, and looks upon the structure of 

 man's organism as a subject unsuitable for scientific 

 exploration. It would be as reasonable to assert that 

 a man who is to be a scientific investigator must com- 

 mence by confessing his belief in the truth of a con- 

 clusion which has long been proved to be false by 

 reason and observation. 



The evidence that the wonderful properties of the 



fluids about to be considered are due to the presence 



L 



