So when the human body is
invaded the blood brings to the breach two kinds of defenders. One is
the serum which neutralizes the bacterial poison and by coagulating
forms a new skin or scab over the exposed flesh. The other is the
phagocytes or white corpuscles, the free lances of our corporeal
militia, which attack and kill the invading bacteria. The aim of the
physician then is to aid these defenders as much as possible without
interfering with them. Therefore the antiseptic he is seeking is one
that will assist the serum in protecting and repairing the broken
tissues and will kill the hostile bacteria without killing the friendly
phagocytes. Carbolic acid, the most familiar of the coal-tar
antiseptics, will destroy the bacteria when it is diluted with 250 parts
of water, but unfortunately it puts a stop to the fighting activities of
the phagocytes when it is only half that strength, or one to 500, so it
cannot destroy the infection without hindering the healing.
In this search for substances that would attack a specific disease germ
one of the leading investigators was Prof.
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