Micro- Organisms and their Relation to Disease. 65 



only would this be the case, but the more completely necrosed 

 tissue would disintegrate, slough, and where possible take with 

 it the enclosed bacilli, carrying them outwards. This explanation 

 accounts consequently in a very natural manner for the much 

 more rapid effect which is seen in the action of the remedy on 

 external parts which have been attacked by tubercle. That the 

 action of the fluid is precisely similar in internal organs has 

 been conclusively shown by ocular demonstration. Have we 

 then no practical lessons to derive from all these life histories of 

 germs ? First, sufficient evidence has now been accumulated to 

 prove the value of bacteriological researches in revealing know- 

 ledge of importance to the national health, and showing the 

 advisability of the establishment in the United Kingdom of 

 hygienic institutes similar to those of France and Germany. 

 Second, the importance is proved of systematic sanitary arrange- 

 ments for the drainage and the proper cleanliness of our streets, 

 which precautions are proved to have the effect of notably 

 diminishing the number of disease-producing (pathogenic) 

 microbes. Schnirer, of Vienna, a city whose streets are not 

 noted for cleanliness, has shown that street dust there contains 

 quantities of tubercle bacilli. He took a bunch of grapes from 

 a stall where they had been lying exposed for sale, and found 

 that on rinsing them the washings contained tubercle bacilli. 

 Cornet's researches in Berlin with regard to micro-organisms in 

 street dust has so far met with negative results. I am not able 

 to give you any particulars of the street dust of Belfast, but I 

 am sure that it would be capable of yielding a plentiful crop of 

 tubercle bacilli. Lastly, the facts have been established that no 

 germ will grow unless it has a suitable soil ; and that the most 

 suitable soil for many of the germs is where the vitality of their 

 host is weakened. Consequently hygiene, which is a thing 

 which neither State nor sanitary authorities can procure, must 

 be a matter for every individual personally to see to. 



Dr. Henry O'Neill said : — I have listened with much 

 pleasure to the paper just read by my friend Dr. Sinclair on 

 the important subject of micro-organisms. 



