1882.J 
Latest Conquest. 
719 
Vaccinationists and the Bestiarians. Differing in everything 
else, they fraternise on the broad principle of hostility to 
medical research and medical practice. It is asserted that 
the art of healing has no fixed principles, — that it passes 
from one extreme to another, swayed by fashion rather than 
reason, and that any improvements are effected not by the 
spontaneous action of the faculty, but are forced upon it by 
the pressure of public opinion. 
It may, of course, be asked — What concern is this of ours ? 
We are not, and do not in any way profess to be, an organ 
of the medical profession ; but we see very clearly that if 
medical science and its practitioners are brought into con- 
tempt, all science — and more especially biological science — ■ 
must suffer. Seeing, therefore, our neighbour’s house on 
fire, we do not consider ourselves bound to remain inactive. 
On this principle we have defended physiological experi- 
mentation for medical purposes, well knowing that in pro- 
portion as it is imperilled similar experimentation conduced 
in the interests of pure biology will be in equal, if not in 
greater, danger. That for so doing we can be rightly charged 
wilh hypocrisy we cannot admit, or even conceive. 
Much attention has been for years past drawn to “ germs.” 
We find the word used not merely in medical or in scientific 
circles, but among the general public, and sometimes with- 
out any very clear notion of its real meaning. Nor has 
ridicule been wanting. For centuries we have heard it read 
in our churches that “ A little leaven leaveneth the whole 
lump.” For centuries we have seen fermentations, putre- 
factions, decompositions, and transformations of various 
sorts take place, as well in the living body as in dead organic 
matter, and in substancces which never have lived. But 
when we are told that these changes, or at least many of 
them, are induced by “ germs,” we find it a theme for 
laughter — asinine rather than Olympian. The British pub- 
lic has never seen a germ, never handled one. A germ is 
nothing quotable on the Stock Exchange or at Mincing Lane 
— nothing upon which an impassioned harangue may be 
delivered in Parliament or at Exeter Hall. And therefore, 
forsooth, it is a thing to be laughed over — a mere “ Hirn- 
gespinst ” ; and those who talk about germs are merely 
gulling the public, and seeking to hide their own ignorance, 
Q- E. D.! 
Such is substantially the style in which the “germ theory” 
of certain diseases and of fermentations is talked of by too 
many of the respectable and intelligent whose sweet voices 
go to make up public opinion. 
