Germ Theory of Disease

the theory that certain diseases are caused by the entrance into the body of germs of a vegetable nature which during their growing and multiplying in the body they invade, produce chemical changes and create chemical products, that like other poisons alter functions, disturb the proce es of nutrition and repair, and cause disease, These microorganisms are infectious; the period during which “ote retain their vitality, like the rate of their growth and mel. tiplication, varies in different cases, but it is limited in all. Few, if any, resist the destructive influence of a temperature of 300° F., while. most succumb at the temperature of 200° er even le , particularly if exposed for some time.