DISEASE GERMS. 



of bioplasm of the blood from which they differ so 

 remarkably in power. Of the conditions under which 

 these germs are produced, and of the manner in which 

 the rapidly-multiplying matter acquires its new and 

 marvellous specific powers, we have very much yet to 

 learn. Those who have committed themselves to 

 physical views of life, undisturbed by the signal failure 

 of all their attempts to demonstrate facts in favour of 

 their hypothesis, must needs resort to the wretched 

 expedient of suggesting that differences of form, 

 strticture, and composition, may be discovered at some 

 future time. These, when discovered, they prophecy 

 will fully account for the marvellous differences in 

 power manifested by the different kinds of formless, 

 structureless, living matter, healthy and morbid, which 

 has hitherto defied chemical analysis. Yet it is 

 imagined that the difference between the chemistry 

 of the small-pox germ, and that of the ordinary pus 

 germ, will be found sufficient to fully account for the 

 different actions of the two. When chemical science 

 shall have progressed sufficiently to enable chemistry 

 to demonstrate the highly complex chemical pheno- 

 mena of these germs, their marvellous collocations 

 and combinations will, doubtless, be exhibited to the 

 public. In the meantime chemists and physicists 

 await with confidence the fulfilment of their pro- 

 phecies, and decline to take notice of any facts that 

 have been, or that may be advanced, against their 

 untenable doctrines. 



