110 ESSAYS OS BACTERIOLOGY. 



ttan a passing thouglit, and are chiefly of Mstorical 

 interest. Eor the distorted and extreme statements 

 which are sometimes issued, there is, in the face of the 

 plain facts of experience and of science, no excuse. 

 It is hardly too much to. say that they are a criminal 

 abuse of privilege. 



In this day the public has not the fear of smallpox 

 before its eyes as formerly. It forgets too easily. 

 We have no realizing sense of its horrors. Therefore 

 we see growing a false sense of security and a growing 

 carelessness in regard to the necessity and the means 

 of insuring safety. If we will only follow the plain 

 teachings of that which has now become an integral 

 part of biological science, availing ourselves of the 

 equally plain lessons of experience in its application, 

 we need have no fears of the "stinking pestilence" 

 which struck terror to the hearts of our forefathers. 

 The truth is before us, and the truth will make us 

 safe. If we grow too careless, indifferent and neg- 

 lectful, history may repeat itself in giving another 

 and a different lesson from experience. 



From such a lesson we may well pray, in the name 

 of Jenner, to be delivered. 



