EXTENSION OF THE GERM THEORY 401 



strated in the hospitals of Paris. The following is the oc- 

 casion upon which it was first used. The Academy may re- 

 member that I stated before it, and the fact has never 

 been denied, that ammoniacal urine is always produced by a 

 microscopic organism, entirely similar in many respects to 

 the organism of furuncles. Later, in a joint investigation 

 with M. Joubert, we found that a solution of boric acid was 

 easily fatal to these organisms. After that, in 1877, I ^ n " 

 duced Dr. Guyon, in charge of the genito-urinary clinic at 

 the Necker hospital, to try injections of a solution of boric 

 acid in affections of the bladder. I am informed by this 

 skilful practitioner that he has done so, and daily observes 

 good results from it. He also tells me that he performs no 

 operation of lithotrity without the use of similar injections. 

 I recall these facts to show that a solution of boric acid 

 is entirely harmless to an extremely delicate mucous mem- 

 brane, that of the bladder, and that it is possible to fill the 

 bladder with a warm solution of boric acid without even 

 inconvenience. 



To return to the confinement cases. Would it not be of 

 great service to place a warm concentrated solution of 

 boric acid, and compresses, at the bedside of each patient; 

 which she could renew frequently after saturating with the 

 solution, and this also after confinement. It would also be 

 acting the part of prudence to place the compresses, before 

 using, in a hot air oven at 150 C., more than enough to 

 kill the germs of the common organisms. 8 



Was I justified in calling this communication "On the 

 extension of the germ theory to the etiology of certain com- 

 mon diseases?" I have detailed the facts as they have ap- 

 peared to me and I have mentioned interpretations of them: 

 but I do not conceal from myself that, in medical territory, it 

 is difficult to support one's self wholly on subjective found- 

 ations. I do not forget that Medicine and Veterinary prac- 

 tice are foreign to me. I desire judgment and criticism up- 

 on all my contributions. Little tolerant of frivolous or 

 prejudiced contradiction, contemptuous of that ignorant criti- 

 cism which doubts on principle, I welcome with open arms 



The adoption of precaution*, similar to those here suggested, has resulted 

 in the practically complete disappearance of puerperal lever. Translator. 



