MEANS OF DEFENCE AGAINST MICROBES. 257 



We must, in conclusion, rely much more upon 

 measures of hygiene than on antiseptics to ward off 

 the attacks of the microbes which are factors of 

 disease. Even in Lister's dressing, it is probable 

 that the hermetic closing of the wound has, as it is 

 shown by Gue"rin's process, much more effect than 

 carbolic acid, which is shown by direct experiments 

 to be a feeble and generally an insufficient antiseptic. 



We have still to speak of the preventive vaccina- 

 tions and inoculations on which medicine relies more 

 than on antiseptics; but this subject will be better 

 discussed in the ^following chapter, when we have 

 spoken of the processes of culture by which the 

 liquids destined for these inoculations are prepared. 



