736 
N. R. MACAULAY. 
gestion has occurred the germ that might be floating in the 
atmosphere may find a desirable habitat, but the chilling and 
congestion have been the primary factors of the disease. 
Claude Bernard by section of the sympathetic nerve ot the 
neck caused congestion of that side of face and head, this con¬ 
gestion being entirely due to the loss of inhibitory power over 
the vessels and not to any microbe. But let us suppose for 
the sake of argument that the disease is due to a bacillus 
pneumococci, what would be the result of the action of cold 
applications ? Here I will again mention that I am not deal¬ 
ing with internal medicaments. The action of the cold would 
reduce the temperature. In this case you will say we are 
treating a symptom of the disease, but when we remember 
that the vitality of the germ is not so great and that it does 
not reproduce and thrive so readily with a reduced tempera¬ 
ture, we surely would be treating scientifically. 
The eyes of all medical men, and 1 might say of all the 
thinking world, are to-day fixed upon the result of the inocu¬ 
lation of Prof. Koch’s lymph in tuberculous patients. Up to 
date the composition of the lymph is a secret, but from its ac¬ 
tion it certainly is directly" antagonistic to the tubercle bacillus. 
The injection has even been the means of assisting in a correct 
diagnosis of doubtful cases. When there is no tubercular 
trouble there is no reaction, but if there is tuberculosis its ac¬ 
tion is manifest, thus showing its antagonism to the disease 
it is intended to cure. 
After all, does not this theory of treating diseases with 
what is antagonistic or opposite in its effects seen most plausi¬ 
ble? 
When the weather becomes cold we put on more and 
warmer garments to counteract its effect, and this being so 
why not reverse the rule and put on cold applications when 
too hot? 
The surroundings frequently are not such as would sanction 
the application of cold water for fear of drafts, &c, and there is 
also another great drawback against the use of this treatment, 
and that is the popular prejudice there is against the use of 
anything cold in fevers. Years ago this also applied to the 
