Considérations sur l'étiologie des maladies infectieuses

In the preface the author acknowledges that his opinions are contrary to predominating doctrines. However, he believes that even as Pasteur abandoned ancient conceptions the time will come through an evolution of ideas relating to pathology and heredity when many modern views will be abandoned and old concepts be reborn. The book philosophizes on general pathology and the etiology and pathogenesis of infectious diseases. The contents are based on observations and studies made during the life of the author. He refers to the discovery of filtrable viruses and the era before Pasteur, discusses much of Pasteur's work, and mentions the latter's impetuosity in defending his opinions. There are portrayed some of the advances made in bacteriology, and this is accompanied by a discussion of the origin of disease and of epidemics. Influenza, cerebrospinal meningitis and diphtheria are among the infectious diseases considered from an epidemiologic point of view. Considerable attention