31 



" germs are not so much ' mischief makers ' as mischief spreaders, 

 that is to say that althougli an inflammation may come into 

 existence without their aid, their presence communicates to it 

 after it has come into existence the power of reproducing itself in 

 previously healthy tissues whether by extension or dissemination." 



Sometimes, however, even though the tubercle bacilli establish 

 themselves in the tissue the epithelial cells may become strong 

 enough to resist their fui-ther invasion and destroy them. The 

 bacilli disappear and a "fibrous tubercle" containing giant cells 

 but no bacilli is left behind as evidence of the fight which has 

 taken place. 



And does not this fact furnish us with our most important 

 lesson ? viz. that in the prevention and treatment of consumptive 

 mischief our aim must be not so much to fight against the bacillus 

 as to strengthen the parts attacked. To improve, that is, the con- 

 dition of the blood and of the cellular elements by suitable dietetic, 

 hygienic and medicinal means. And is not this in accordance 

 with sound practical experience ? That the tubercle bacillus will 

 communicate the disease under ordinary circumstances to healthy 

 individuals cannot for one moment be admitted. The statistics 

 compiled by Drs Cotton and Theodore "Williams and Mr Edwards 

 from the records of the Brompton Hospital relating to several 

 hundreds of individuals, subjected more or less to contact and 

 association with consumptive patients for three months and up- 

 wards, directly negative any idea of consumption being, in the 

 ordinary sense of the word, an infectious disease. And therefore 

 if a healthy human system can resist the invasion of the bacillus, 

 surely the common sense view of preventing its invasion, or arrest- 

 ing its ,progress, must be to adopt such measures as will tend to the 

 development of healthy tissue. That the internal administration 



