154 CANCER BIOPLASTS. 



cancer germs are represented amongst the large 

 cancer cells figured in Plate X, fig. 44, and in 

 Plate XIX, fig. 72. Between the cancer germ, which 

 cannot be conveyed by the air from the diseased 

 organism to one not infected, and the germ of 

 scarlatina, which will retain its vitality for weeks 

 after it has escaped from the organism in which 

 it was produced, and may readily gain access to 

 healthy organisms in the air they breathe, we have 

 examples of living disease germs manifesting powers 

 of retaining their vitality when free in many different 

 degrees. In other words, these poisons differ re- 

 markably in the facility with which they are propa- 

 gated, or spread from person to person. All exhibit 

 the same appearances, though they differ remarkably 

 in power. The capacity for resisting death, due to 

 some inherent power and not to their chemical com- 

 position, varies much, some being capable of living 

 for weeks or months away from the fluids of the 

 body, while others die within a very short time of 

 their removal from the seat of growth. 



In this section a number of remarkable forms of 

 contagious matter or virus have been referred to. 

 These resemble one another in general appearance. 

 Neither by its form, chemical composition, or other 

 demonstrable properties, could the vaccine germ be 

 distinguished from the small-pox germ, or the pus- 

 germ from either. All are like the minute particles 



