The Princeton union., 1921-12-15

with which they are thrown. (They
almost never take their own mcdicine.)
Again, a class of Investigators, num-
bering representatives of the public
health service, and many scientists
from our great universities, enter a
complete denial Of the germ theory,
substituting therefor the worm theory.
These scientists aver that so-called
germ diseases are in reality worm dis
eases and already the lengthy list of
vegetable bacteria is parallaled by a
replacer set of animal worms. There
would seem to be small choice between
being consumed by germs or eaten by
worms, but this innovation in medical
theories presents another realignment
of the medical kaleidoscope.
The facts are that just as the atomic
theory gave place to changing thought,
embodied in the theory that matter is
electricity or holes in the ether, and
thus prefigured further and more near
ly final theories, so has the germ
theory of disease begun to disintegrate,
under the restiveness Of the material
scientists thirst for ultimate knowl-
edge. A short time ago, it was con-
sidered folly to challenge the germ
theory. Today, We have actually ar
rived at it's breaking up. There are
large and growing numbers of the
medical faculty who boldly disclaim
that bacteria have anything more than
possibly a helpful role to play in dis
ease. By these authorities disease
germs are regarded as merely scaven-
gers, which are usually present for
wholly benign purpose. Writing re-
Gently in the Medical Record, one of
the most prominent surgeons in Amer
lea announced: "With regard to the
germ and the theory Of it's action in
disease Except as secondary invaders)
all the facts Of my experience are in
opposition to the present teaching.
The ancient belief that the sick man
was possessed with demon which
must be driven out has it's modern
parallel in the belief that the starting
point of disease is in the introduction
of a foreign agent into the body. The
germ is the modern demon. You have
but to substitute the ldca of the germ
for the idea Of the demon and the med
ical practice of today is but kind of
exorcism." He continues: "As Lloyd
George has said, The whole world
must be remade," and in the recon-
struction, medical and surgical prac-
tice must be reformed" His conclu-
sions from exhaustive experiments,
are That diseases are caused by poisons
produced by necrosis and decay Of ccl-
lular tissues. 81 have found" he says,
"that mans greatest enemy is his own
decaying TISSUE"
Note that in this newest theory of
disease, man is made i'll, not from
without, but from within. Another re-
arrangement Of the kaleidoscope; for
here, as always, material medicine con-
sistently looks to matter as the cause
of it's own diseases, and to remove the
offending tissues, lays hands rudcly
upon the helpless body.
Jesus said, "A mans foes shall be
they of his own household,' and Mrs.
Eddy has shown that mans house
hold is his mentality. Metaphysically
viewed, this new medical theory re-
veals that mortal man is made ill by
his own false beliefs. Mrs. Eddy said
that fifty years ago. The proper, the
scientific way, to get rid of disease is
not to excise the effect, but rather to
correct the cause. Christian science
heals and prevents disease, just as it
abolishes all other inharmonies
through the destruction of false be-
licfs by the application to them of