GERMS. 27 



The abscess was not caused by germs, but the system 

 of the patient was unhealthy. There was some irri- 

 tating substance in the circulation, resulting from re- 

 tained waste or imperfect digestion, and the irritation 

 would naturally produce the greatest effect wherever _ 

 there was least resistance. Resistance was least where 

 the wound was made, because the tissues were weak- 

 ened by the operation. The irritation was greater 

 than the weakened cells could stand, and they were de- 

 stroyed. The germs which are always present acting 

 upon these dead cells, produced fermentation and the 

 dead tissue was converted into pus, hence the abscess. 



The disinfectants or antiseptics referred to could not 

 have prevented the stitch abscess, and the level-headed 

 surgeon understands that if antiseptics were used 

 strong enough to destroy all the surrounding tissue, 

 many germs would still remain vigorous, because they 

 were designed to resist disinfectants, acids, alkalies, 

 heat, cold, etc. Animal tissue was not, because it never 

 comes in contact with them except by accident, but 

 animal tissue was designed to resist germs because 

 germs are present always, and it is well known that 

 healthy tissue can destroy germs with the greatest 

 ease. A few years ago, bacteriologists flushed the 

 healthiest wounds with antiseptics. To-day, they have 

 so modified their practice as to restrict all antiseptics 

 in non-infected wounds. Bacteriologists tell us about 

 aseptic operations; i. e., operations free from germs; 

 operations in which germ action is entirely excluded, 

 yet this is impossible, for the dressings may be boiled 

 and baked, and the operator hooded and masked, yet 



