ESSAYS ON BACTERIOLOGY. 131 



tributions of science. Tlioiigli. its importance and 

 value are now universally recognized, it is not many 

 years since it was looked tipon with, some suspicion 

 and even derision hy many practitioners. Its place 

 was thought to be in the experimental laboratory 

 rather than in the consulting room. It was for the 

 student of science, not for the student of disease. The 

 same thing was said of the chemical and microscopic 

 examination of tlie urine. A physician of this city 

 has told the writer of hearing an eminent medical 

 teacher of the last generation say that he could learn 

 all that he wished to know about the urine by a study 

 of the case and an appeal to his unaided senses. To- 

 day the most unpretending doctor understands and 

 constantly practices examinations for albumen, sugar^ 

 casts, and other abnormal urinary contents. There 

 are many physicians still living and working who re- 

 member the advent of the clinical thermometer and 

 the smile of incredulity with which it was generally 

 received. The little instrument of thermometric ac- 

 curacy was a pretty scientific toy, but of no practical 

 vahie. "Who could not detect the presence and judge 

 sufiiciently of the degree of fever by the sense of 

 touch alone? To-day every physician carries the in- 

 strument in his pocket and uses it in almost every case. 

 So it is proving of bacteriology. Those who, recog- 

 nizing or being taught early its meaning, began to use 

 it in everyday diagnosis, braving the harmless stigma . 

 of being theorists and unpractical, have now the pleas- ■ 



