Page:The Harveian oration 1888.djvu/39

31 "germs are not so much 'mischief makers' as mischief spreaders, that is to say that although an inflammation may come into existence without their aid, their presence communicates to it after it has come into existence the power of reproducing itself in previously healthy tissues whether by extension or dissemination."

Sometimes, however, even though the tubercle bacilli establish themselves in the tissue the epithelial cells may become strong enough to resist their further invasion and destroy them. The bacilli disappear and a "fibrous tubercle" containing giant cells but no bacilli is left behind as evidence of the fight which has taken place.

And does not this fact furnish us with our most important lesson? viz. that in the prevention and treatment of consumptive mischief our aim must be not so much to fight against the bacillus as to strengthen the parts attacked. To improve, that is, the condition of the blood and of the cellular elements by suitable dietetic, hygienic and medicinal means. And is not this in accordance with sound practical experience? That the tubercle bacillus will communicate the disease under ordinary circumstances to healthy individuals cannot for one moment be admitted. The statistics compiled by Drs Cotton and Theodore "Williams and Mr Edwards from the records of the Brompton Hospital relating to several hundreds of individuals, subjected more or less to contact and association with consumptive patients for three months and upwards, directly negative any idea of consumption being, in the ordinary sense of the word, an infectious disease. And therefore if a healthy human system can resist the invasion of the bacillus, surely the common sense view of preventing its invasion, or arresting its ,progress, must be to adopt such measures as will tend to the development of healthy tissue. That the internal administration