GERMS. 13- 



a proper culture, the germs were found, that this fact 

 alone was positive proof of the presence of the disease, 

 but that on the other hand, so much reliance could not 

 be placed upon negative evidence, for sometimes the 

 disease existed when no germs could be found." 



Sepsis and Asepsis. 



While the author is not a believer in the germ cau- 

 sation of disease, he is a firm believer in Sepsis and 

 Asepsis, because he realizes the dangers lurking in 

 filth, and appreciates the benefits of cleanliness. He 

 believes that absolute cleanliness is not only neces- 

 sary in operative surgery, but also in the every-day lives 

 of the people. This means pure water, fresh air and 

 sunshine; it means pure food and a clean kitchen; it 

 means bathing, the prevention of putrefactive changes, 

 etc. 



Isolation and Disinfection. 



Again, while the author is not a believer in the germ 

 causation of disease, he is emphatically in favor of 

 isolating every infectious case. Strict quarantine reg- 

 ulations should be practised with every disease that is 

 "ketching." Carbolic acid, a solution of lime in water, 

 or other antiseptics should be freely used, while fresh 

 air and sunshine should be admitted in abundance. 

 It seems hardly necessary to add that mechanical clean- 

 liness in the form of soap and water is entitled to* 

 every encouragement. This is as true in health as in 

 sickness. In fact if as much care was given to health 

 as has been lavished upon disease, the latter would 

 vanish, and decay would be death's only victim. 



