ESSAYS ON BACTERIOLOGY. 73 



received, or are likely still- further to receive, more 

 exact definition as the result of bacteriological studies" 

 (Welch). 



Upon antisepsis and disinfection there is little new 

 to be said. They have been worked out, for all prac- 

 tical purposes, to fair satisfaction. The methods of 

 testing disinfectants remain as, before; their practical 

 application is being constantly improved, but in de- 

 tails only. Every one knows that asepsis in surgery 

 has taken precedence over antisepsis as formerly ap- 

 plied, and every one understands the reasons for the 

 change. The reason is simply the old one that pre- 

 vention is better than cure. But, be it remembered, 

 there is still and tjiere will doiibtless remain an im- 

 portant field for antisepsis, and for just the same rea- 

 sons that there remains and will remain the necessitv 

 for curative as well as preventive measures in general 

 jnedical practice. The necessity for antisepsis and 

 for curative measiu-es will remain just as long as in- 

 fecting and other pathogenic agents precede the ad- 

 vent of the surgeon or physician. 



Investigators are still battling with the problem of 

 the hereditary transmission of the infectious diseases, 

 and the matter is by no means yet settled. 



It is settled that offspring may come into the world 

 with the germs of disease in their bodies. But just 

 how freqtient this is and how far it must be taken into 

 account in everyday practice and sanitary science, is, 

 with some diseases, still uncertain. Here, as always, 



