414 
JOSEPH W. PARKER. 
of a dense, white appearance and approaches more and more to 
the tissues from which it springs. These latter changes may 
spread over a period of several months. At the risk of being 
tedious I will refer quite briefly to the important phenomenon 
of phagocytosis by means of which pathogenic germs are de¬ 
stroyed. It is held by some pathologists that phagocytosis be¬ 
gins with the emigration of leucocytes, but later is actively 
carried on by the phagocytes and fibroblasts, or cells of connec¬ 
tive tissue origin. When only a few bacteria are present they 
may become a prey to the leucocytes, and if no other germs 
gain access to the wound infection will not follow. There is 
little doubt that this process plays an important part in the 
healing of wounds by preventing in part or entirely the multi¬ 
plication of bacteria. This phenomenon is accomplished by 
the amoeboid movement of the leucocytes, each cell enclosing a 
germ. The fibroblasts may close half a dozen cells, as leuco¬ 
cytes do the cause of infection or any other cells, living or inert. 
The bacterium may be retained until destroyed or carried in¬ 
to the lymphatic system and deposited in a lymphatic gland. 
Sometimes the bacterium is too virulent and destroys the leu¬ 
cocyte and so obtains its freedom. As phagocytosis tends to 
limit the multiplication of pathogenic germs and in that way 
prevents an increase in extent and intensity of inflammation, so 
its effect on regeneration will be appreciated when we remem¬ 
ber that wounds heal most quickly when there is no infection, 
and but little inflammation present. 
EDUCATION OF LAWMAKERS. 
By Joseph W. Parker, D. V. S., Kansas City, Mo. 
Read at Twenty-fourth Regular Meeting of the Missouri Valley Veterinary Asso¬ 
ciation, St. Joseph, Mo., June 25, 1900. 
_ 
Modern politics appeals to intelligence. A bureau of publi¬ 
cation is now an essential feature of every successful political 
campaign. It has been said that the education of a child 
should begin three generations before it is born. To para- 
