242 BACTERIA. 



table have been cases in which the disease was far advanced, 

 and in which Koch's inoculative treatment has been sought 

 as a last resource by physicians and patients alike. 



A most important point to be remembered in connection 

 with tuberculosis is that under favourable conditions it is an 

 extremely curable disease ; such conditions, however, must 

 be very far-reaching and must include a sufEcient and 

 suitable supply of food to the patient, perfect oxidation of 

 the tissues, and facilities for the excretion of effete products. 

 The effects of climate, of exercise, of pure mountain air,_ free 

 ventilation in houses and of generally favourable hygienic 

 conditions, are all due to the promotion of the healthy 

 condition of the tissues and of the increased vitaUty of the 

 cells ; this vitality increasing their power of resistance and 

 enabling them to cope successfully with the bacilli and their 

 products with which they may be brought in contact. It 

 should not be left out of count, however, that we may, by 

 the use of suitable drugs, be able to exert an antidotal 

 influence by means of which, acting directly on or through 

 the cells, these cells may be put in a still better position for 

 resisting the attacks of the tubercle bacilli and their products. 

 This antidotal system of treatment, if it could be carried out 

 by means of drugs, should prove far more efficacious than the 

 use of any means of treatment that we have at present at 

 our disposal, especially if it could be combined with some 

 of these latter. 



This is not the place to discuss the medical aspects of the 

 question ; but the above facts are mentioned in connection 

 with the biological problems associated with the action and 

 inter-action of the bacilli and of the cells of the body. 



Literature. 



Bang. — Proc. Internat. Med. Congress, Copenhagen, vol. i.. 



Path. Sec.,, p. ii., 1884. 

 Baumgarten. — Zeischrift f. Wissensch Mikroskopie, Bd. i., 



1884 ; Deutsch. Med. Woch., Bd. viii., p. 305, 1882. 

 Bolitz. — Journ. Com. Path, and Therapeutics, p. 370. 



Dec, 1890. 

 Bollinger. — Baier Aerztl Int. Blatt., 1883 ; Centralbl. f. d. 



Med. Wiss., Bd. xxi., p. 600, 1883. 

 Cheyne, Watson. — Practitioner^ vol. xxx., p. 241, 1883. 

 CoHNHEiM. — Uebertragbarkeit der Tuberculose. Berlin, 1877. 



