GEKMS. 63 



Why, the cells of the digestive tract, of course; i. e., 

 the digestive fluids furnished by those cells. 



The stomach is the place where germs enter in the 

 largest numbers, hence it is good sense to believe that 

 the cells of this organ are most powerful in destroying 

 them. Human blood is also a powerful germ destroyer. 



It has been stated that bacteriology rests upon noth- 

 ing real, and is supported only by theory. In the fore- 

 going pages the author has endeavored to prove that 

 statement true. Look at it another way. 



Maggots do not cause wood to rot. Their presence 

 only indicates that such material furnishes nourish- 

 ment upon which they can develop. Germs do not 

 cause disease. Their presence only indicates that tis- 

 sue destroyed by disease furnishes nourishment upon 

 which they can develop. Germs are scavengers feed- 

 ing upon dead tissue. Maggots are scavengers feeding 

 upon rotten wood. 



The mechanic strikes his finger with the hammer; 

 the finger swells, turns black and later some of the 

 cells of tissues destroyed by the blow, liquefy and are 

 discharged as pus. The microscope would reveal mil- 

 lions of germs in this pus, yet all would understand 

 that it was the blow from the hammer and not the 

 germs that caused the abscess. 



Take a burn, where the skin and some of the deeper 

 structures are destroyed. Soon this dead tissue is filled 

 with germs, and by their power to decompose dead 

 matter, the germs break down or separate the elements 

 of the tissues destroyed by the burn, some in the form 



