organization and life, to discover the cause,—and to chemistry, and other sciences for the cure of his ailments.
Famine and distress have aroused his emotions, and softened down his asperities, so that what appears at first to be the infliction of a Curse without Pity, is in reality a Judgment with Mercy.
It occurred to me, that on the formation of the Epidemiological Society, the first question for consideration should be, What is the nature of those agents, which induce Epidemic Diseases? are they composed of animate or inanimate matter? In other words, do the manifestations of these diseases exhibit the operations of living or of chemical forces.
Having, in my study, dwelt on the subject with an earnest desire to find the truth, I put the suggestion, with my ideas, before the public to reject or receive them. If they be rejected, I can but think a full discussion of the enquiry will lead to the most important results. If they be received with favour, I doubt not others, with more ability, will take up the strain and resolve the discords into harmony.
J. G.
Wandsworth, September, 1850.
CONTENTS.
| PAGE | |
| Introduction | [1] |
| CHAPTER I. | |
| IS IT PROBABLE THAT EPIDEMIC, ENDEMIC, AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES, DEPEND UPON VITAL GERMS FOR THEIR MANIFESTATIONS? | [11] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| THE NUMBER AND VALUE OF FACTS TO SUPPORTTHE PROPOSITION. | |
| Section I.—On Reproduction | [22] |
| Section II.—Historical Notice of Epidemic Diseases | [34] |
| Section III.—The Dispersion of Plants and Diseases | [64] |
| Section IV.—The Relation between Epidemic and EndemicDiseases | [96] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| THE REASONABLENESS OF THE APPLICATION OFTHE FACTS TO THE INFERENCE. | |
| Section I.—The Chemical Theory of Epidemics untenable | [108] |
| Section II.—The Animalcular Theory of Epidemics untenable | [128] |
| Section III.—Sketch of the Physiology and Pathology ofPlants and Animals | [138] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| RESULTS IN PROOF OF THE TENABLENESS OF THEPROPOSITION. | |
| Section I.—Observations on some of the Laws of EpidemicDiseases | [155] |
| Section II.—What is the nature of those Poisons which mostresemble the Morbid Poisons in their effects on the body? | [166] |
| Section III.—What results do we obtain from the effects ofremedial agents, in proof of the hypothesis? | [176] |
| Conclusion | [189] |