MICROBES AXD HEALTH. 



parts supplied by such an artery die from lack of 

 nourishment anjl degeneration follows. The stomach 

 may become so unhealthy as to contain immense num- 

 bers of germs, yet the danger is not from the germs, but 

 from perforation; i. e., the ulcer may "eat" through 

 the stomach, or may destroy blood-vessels and cause 

 dangerous or fatal hemorrhage. In none of the dis- 

 eases named are germs a danger or injury. 



Some may claim that when an abscess ruptures the 

 bulk of the germs escape, and it is by reason of such 

 relief that the system recovers. Exactly. Nature has 

 made every provision for the system to localize disease 

 and overcome germ action. The abscess is circum- 

 scribed until it reaches the surface, when rupture takes 

 place and the system is relieved. If an abscess is so 

 deep that it cannot reach the surface it is often ab- 

 sorbed; little by little it is taken up by the circulation, 

 carried away, eliminated and recovery follows. 



These cases not only show that germs do not cause 

 disease, but they prove that the presence of germs in 

 any considerable numbers is merely coincident with 

 disease ; i. e., a result of disease. As stated many times, 

 they are everywhere present for the purpose of separat- 

 ing the elements of dead tissue, animal or vegetable, 

 and giving such elements back to nature's laboratory. 

 Whether death was the result of accident, old age or 

 disease (abscess) makes no difference. When the work 

 is finished the germs disappear. 



Green's Pathology, although filled -to overflowing 

 with the various germ theories, states on page 370: 



