GERMS. 29' 



tissue. In most cases the natural resistance is suffici- 

 ent to resist the morbid influences of putrefaction, but 

 the reinforcement furnished by the antiseptics aids m 

 bringing about favorable, results at an earlier date. 



Germs do not cause disease, and if they ever carry 

 infection or poison from a diseased body, they act 

 simply as a medium; i. e., having been in contact with 

 diseased tissue they may carry disease the same as a 

 dirty towel or dirty instrument. 



As stated, germs in varying numbers and all varie- 

 ties inhabit earth, air and water, except upon high 

 mountains, above the line of perpetual snow, or on mid- 

 ocean far away from land and ship. The air which 

 surrounds high mountain peaks, or on mid-ocean, con- 

 tains no life, hence nature does not concentrate her 

 forces at these points. This is another evidence of the 

 economy of nature. 



But germs are found wherever life is found. The- 

 air we breathe is swarming with germs ; so is the water 

 we drink; so is the soil upon which we tread. They 

 cover all objects exposed to air; they may be found 

 everywhere upon the surface of the human body; they 

 inhabit all mucous membrane that is exposed to air. 

 The mouth, stomach, digestive tract and the air-tubes 

 of the lungs, all contain germs. It cannot be other- 

 wise for they are taken in with every breath, but nature- 

 has provided for this by rendering the fluids of the- 

 body capable of destroying germ life. 



Can germs overcome animal tissue and produce dis- 

 ease? The thought needs no argument. If germs 

 could overcome animal tissue the human race would 



