154 MICROBES AND HEALTH. 



consumption, there was still vitality enough to destroy 

 germ life before they reached the lungs. In such cases 

 germs would be absent. As stated on page 152, many 

 varieties of germs are present in most cases of consump- 

 tion. The products of inflammation furnish a field in 

 which germs can absorb nourishment, hence their pres- 

 ence. 



It should be remembered that germs are simply scav- 

 engers, feeding upon septic matter or upon the septic 

 elements of the blood. Their presence in such tissue 

 is perfectly natural. Their action aids in breaking 

 down and liquefying dead and useless matter, and giv- 

 ing the elements back to nature and thus aiding in the 

 recovery of the patient and in the world's economy. 

 Germs were created for this purpose. They are the 

 medium through which all material progress has been 

 made. As already stated, a dead cell becomes the 

 center of a tubercle by exciting inflammation around 

 it. Dead cells are always found in tubercles. This is 

 known and taught by every pathologist and bacteri- 

 ologists admit it is true. Bacteriologists, however, 

 claim that tubercles are caused by germs, yet germs 

 are not found within the tubercles. This is also known 

 and taught by every pathologist, and bacteriologists 

 admit it is true. If tubercles are caused by germs, 

 why is it that germs are not present in the tubercle? 

 It is only reasonable to believe that if tubercles were 

 caused by germs the germs would be present there. 

 Bacteriologists claim that germs are present in the tis- 

 sue surrounding the tubercle. Exactly. The reason 

 is, the tubercles contain no blood vessels and offer no 



