278 BACTERIOLOGY. 



reasons for the change of view that has come 

 about. It is evident from our exposition of 

 the causes of disease that there is no special 

 " vital force " and no peculiar " healing power 

 of nature." In healing processes as well as 

 in disease processes we have to deal with things 

 that are both natural and comprehensible. 



What, for instance, is meant by the cure 

 of a disease ? There are very different things 

 which may lay claim to this title. The cure of 

 tuberculosis by Brehmer's method convinces 

 us that we can actually cure certain diseases 

 by utilizing those phenomena which in the 

 preceding chapter I have instanced as con- 

 ditions that nature herself furnishes in order 

 to convert a given predisposition toward dis- 

 ease into its opposite, immunity. 'This method 

 makes use of external factors such as air, 

 water and food to influence the organization 

 of man and does not concern itself at all with 

 the disease germs, the tubercle bacteria. The 

 human organism is treated with no remedy, no 

 foreign substance. Both prevention and cure 

 of the disease are attained by use of the same 

 hygienic factors. Through this method the 

 natural forces of the organism are strengthened 

 and the organism itself made capable of deal- 

 ing with its minute invaders. The method 

 produces its effect also by increasing, so to 



