A False Idea Concerning Germs.

The germ theory of disease has been promulgated with such carelessness that the laity have an opinion that whenever one is assaulted by any specific germ there is no salvation for him. He is sure to have a serious attack of the disease which that germ represents. While some editors charge this erroneous opinion to the irregular element of the profession, its prevalence is altogether too great to warrant such a charge. It is due to the persistent manner with which the regular profession as much as any others are endeavoring to ascribe every possible condition of disease to germs.

There are no germs present today that were not present during the entire history of man, under all circumstances and locations. The idea that every breath we breathe is surcharged with a seething mass of death-carrying germs is erroneous in the extreme. Every individual should be taught by the profession that sound, healthy structures, a normal carrying on of the tissue changes within the body, and an abundance of fresh pure air, renders the body invulnerable to germs. They should be taught that good healthy blood is in itself an antagonist of illimitable power against the onset of microbes.

Ellingwood's Therapeutist, Vol. 2, 1908, was edited by Finley Ellingwood M.D.