CHAPTER LXVII 



MICROBES IN SURGERY 



TRUE, many an accidental wound on the surface 

 of the body, however slight, however serious, 

 is the doorway for the entrance of many an invisi- 

 ble foe. 



True, many a disease is the result. Many an in- 

 fection, many an inflammation, local or wide- 

 spread, many a pus formation, many a blood 

 poisoning. 



True, the discovery of this evil and how to pre- 

 vent it, has conferred upon the world a great bene- 

 faction; sterilize the accidental wound as soon as 

 possible after it is made. Sterilize the wound, 

 however slight or serious, and keep it sterilized 

 until all danger is! past. The wound is thus healed 

 from first intention. The invisible foe is killed 

 before it enters the circulation. 



But this is only one-half the story. The invisi- 

 ble foe, the same in kind, the same in number, en- 

 ters the wound purposely made by the surgeon, as 

 readily as it does the wound accidentally made. 

 The resulting evil, too, is equally great. 



Hence the knowledge how to prevent this evil 

 has conferred upon the world another, and, if pos- 

 sible, greater benefaction. 



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