294 BACTERIOLOGY. 



the organism which abide in its body fluids, 

 its local tissue cells and wandering cells, in 

 such a way that this simple physical remedy 

 becomes a cure. If the local affection is on 

 the point of becoming general, as is observed 

 at times in so-called catarrhal or rheumatic 

 processes, then we can frequently cut short the 

 whole process by a hot bath. This succeeds 

 because such a physical method, through the 

 intervention of the nerves and by the raising 

 of the body temperature, incites to a tem- 

 porarily increased activity the same natural 

 protective forces of the body. 



By the artificial alteration of those natural 

 conditions the significance of which as curative 

 factors I have previously attempted to indicate, 

 we are able to act more rapidly, although not 

 so durably upon the organization of man, and 

 in such a way as to enable him to battle suc- 

 cessfully against the germs of disease. As 

 with chemical remedies, the judgment of a 

 competent physician is necessary here also, 

 since such changes in conditions might lead 

 sometimes to an overtaxing of the organism 

 and thereby do harm instead of good. A 

 scientifically trained physician with hygienic 

 notions and with marked individuality remains 

 always and everywhere the best remedy and 

 the surest means of cure. 



