THE GERM THEORY AND COMMON DISEASES. 
181 
from their spread under different forms and in various ways in 
the blood or lymphatics in a certain part of the body, give 
rise to morbid forms, varying with the state of those parts, with 
the nature of the parasites, and the general constitution of the 
subjects. Whatever may be this constitution, does it not seem 
that in resisting the production of the vulgar parasitic organisms, 
recovery might take place in all cases, except perhaps from those 
which the body would already contain before confinement, by the 
presence of impure abscesses, internal or external, or microscopic 
organisms, as we have seen in a preceding example, (fifth observa¬ 
tion). The antiseptic method seems to me to be powerful in the 
great majority of classes. It appears to me that immediately af¬ 
ter confinement one ought to commence the applications of these 
antiseptics. Carbolic acid may be very useful, but there is another 
antiseptic which I would recommend ; it is boric acid, in concen¬ 
trated solution, at ordinary temperature, that is 4 p. 100 about. 
This acid, whose singular effect on the life of cells has been 
shown by Mr. Dumas, is so slightly acid that it is even of alkaline 
reaction, with some proof papers; besides which it is odorless, 
thus differing from carbolic acid, whose odor is so offensive to 
patients. Again its innocuousness upon mucous membranes, es¬ 
pecially the vesical, is every day tested in our hospitals. Here is 
the occasion where I first used it. The academy will remember 
that I have shown, and it has not been disproved, that ammoni- 
acal urines are always produced by a microscopic organism, re¬ 
sembling much, in several particulars, that of furuncles. Later, 
in common with Mr. Joubert, we found that a solution of boric 
acid was fatal to that organism. From that time and since 1877 
I have advised Dr. Guyon, surgeon at Necker, (section of genito¬ 
urinary diseases,) to try the injections of solutions of boric acid 
in diseases of the bladder. I have reports from him that he has 
obtained thus far excellent results from it. He has even told me 
that he never performs lithotrity without such injections. I speak 
of these facts only to show that boric acid is inoffensive to a very 
delicate membrane; indeed, the bladder can be safely filled with 
a tepid solution of boric acid. 
To return to confined women: Would it not be very useful to 
