THE PREVENTION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE. 431 



to the idea of being able to disinfect without 

 much ado, and Fliigge expressed himself very 

 positively in regard to the old conception that 

 attached importance to simple filth as provo- 

 cative of disease. The view held by Koch 

 quickly burned itself out. We are able to-day 

 to convince ourselves easily that Koch's con- 

 ception is largely mistaken. Years ago I de- 

 fended the contrary view in the words : " Dis- 

 infection is successful only where cleanliness 

 is associated with it. Cleanliness is the first 

 and better half of disinfection." The great 

 disinfection nuisance of 1892 brought the real 

 necessities of the situation again to the reali- 

 zation of a wide circle. At that time even the 

 health department at Berlin, which is con- 

 ducted under the influence of Koch, had to 

 admit that : " Cleanliness is better than poor 

 disinfection. " It is to be hoped that a step 

 further will be taken, and that the authorities 

 will conclude not to disinfect at all except 

 where there is abundant prospect of success. 

 If we proceed along the line I have suggested, 

 directions for disinfection need not be so long 

 that we forget at the end what we read at the 

 beginning, and they will cease to be official 

 guides to abject panic and fear of bacteria. 



Unfortunately one question remains but 

 partly solved. In the recent cholera epidemic 



