ANTISEPTIC THERAPEUTICS. 
661 
mulated a table of the value of various antiseptics, the propor¬ 
tion being that in which the agents named permanently 
prevented the development of any of the micro-organisms float¬ 
ing in the atmosphere, i.e ., the organic solution was freely ex¬ 
posed to the air and the test consisted in its permanent preser¬ 
vation from putrefactive changes. If Miguel had protected his 
solutions from atmospheric organisms and had inoculated them 
with pure culture of pathogenic bacteria, the results would have 
been still more favorable, and after a time, which would be dif¬ 
ferent for different bacteria, he would have found that the 
pathogenic bacteria introduced into his culture media would 
have lost their ability to grow in a favorable medium. 
So, too, in therapeutics, if we can restrain the development 
of a pathogenic micro-organism, we practically render it harm¬ 
less, or at least restrict its power for mischief within limits 
which are compatible with the safety of the patient. 
INDICATION. 
The term indication is used by the therapeutist as equiva¬ 
lent to “the pointing of nature for relief.” The success of the 
physician depends on his skill in reading the indications. In 
many instances the indication is not for a single remedy but 
for several, which by acting together will produce a combined 
result. 
CAUSES. 
In studying the cause of an existing disorder for therapeutic 
purposes, it is first necessary to decide whether such cause has 
already ceased to act or -whether it is still existent and persis¬ 
tent in its influence. When the cause has been a fleeting one, no 
indications exist in regard to it; when the cause persists, how¬ 
ever, the indication is for the removal of the cause : in such a 
case are we most successful as therapeutists. When we disin¬ 
fect a wound or destroy a malarial organism by quinine, we 
carry out the indication for the removal of the cause. The dis¬ 
tribution of bacteria is universal. Wherever man, animals or 
even plants live, die and decompose, bacteria must be present. 
Notwithstanding their extreme familiarity with the animal 
