Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ... PREFACE On The New Hyg1ene, Or The Prevent1on Of Infect1ous D1seases. TT is no small pleasure to me to be asso ciated with the publication of my friend Metchnikoffs Harben Lectures--and I am much honoured by being asked to write a preface to this little book. It is a wonderful and exceptional thing: for here we have the statement of one of the greatest investigators of disease, in the fullness and ripeness of his work and knowledge, placing before the general reader some of the latest results in regard to infection, the part played by those peculiar vegetable organisms--the infective germs or bacteria--the part played by the eater-cells or phagocytes of man when attacked by such germs, and again telling us as to the dangers to civilised mankind of allowing parasitic worms to harbour in his alimentary canal. In the third lecture some of the latest knowledge with regard to the terrible and preventable malady known as Syphilis is set forth in a spirit at once truly scientific and truly philanthropic. These lectures will be read with interest and advantage by medical men, and also by the layman. It is right that intelligent men and women who have not a medical training should follow, so far as they are able, the progress of the warfare waged by such men as Metchnikoff against disease. And it is an immense advantage that they should derive their information on this subject from a great original discoverer, and not from the exaggerated or incomplete gossip of newspapers. Anyone who has a moderate acquaintance with elementary physiology, such as is taught in many schools nowadays, though not in those frequented by the children of the wealthy, can follow Dr. Metchnikoffs exposition and enjoy the admirable method in which he establishes his views...