Page:Wound infections and some new methods for the study of the various factors which come into consideration in their treatment.djvu/33

Rh (3) What is the cause of that "corruption of the lymph" which converts it into a favourable nutrient medium for sero-saprophytic microbes?

The proper way to go to work upon a problem of this kind is to keep it unremittingly before the mind; for then some hypothesis will in the end suggest itself. That found, there will invariably come to notice a certain number of accepted data which the hypothesis will fail to explain. These must then be carefully re-examined to see whether they will stand fast and discredit the hypothesis, or whether they also will come in and support it. And, finally, before launching our theory, we ought to think out all that would follow from it, and then make inquisition to see our theoretical anticipations are borne out.

At any other time one would wish, before promulgating a far-reaching hypothesis, to have controlled it at every point. But we have on our hands in Europe, I suppose, already two or more millions of wound infections, and every other consideration must give way to that of accelerating the researches which we must look to in order to guide us in treating these infections.

I will therefore, before completing its verification, venture to put before you what is, I believe, the solution of the problem of the corruption of the lymph in the wound.