arply and distinctly as between
chemical elements. For the sake of classification we make the
degeneration of a certain tissue the distinguishing element between
various forms of disease. Let us not forget, however, that this does not
mean more than the _degeneration of the main tissue_ which is affected
by this particular complaint, while the same is also characterized by
simultaneous degeneration of one or more of the other tissues, only to a
lesser degree. It is, therefore, not inconsistent if, in giving the more
detailed description thereof, several tissues are mentioned as being
degenerated, and not only the one particular tissue from which the class
derives its name.

I. DEGENERATION OF THE PLASMO TISSUE.

_Anaemia, Chlorosis, Pernicious Anaemia. A. Scrofulosis. B.
Tuberculosis. C. Syphilis. D. Cancer._

To many who are unfamiliar with the results of modern research, and even
to many physicians of the old school of medicine, the family of disease
forms, as enumerated above, will look somewhat formidable. It comprises
the most disastrous plagues of mankind,--plagues for which cures have
been so frantically sought with such an ominous lack of results. It thus
constitutes one of the most practical revelations of the biological
method of research to positively proclaim that the common cause of these
manifestly so different constitutional diseases is one and the same.

That this fact was not recognized long ago is the reason they have been
pronounced incurable by so many physicians who, by poisoning symptoms,
established only a semblance of cure, until biological study led to the
recognition of the truth. It discovered that all of these constitutional
diseases are essentially blood defects and degenerations, resulting in
the destruction of the body tissue in general,--the necessary and
logical consequence of an imperfect condition of the blood.

So there is a ray of hope for humanity breaking through the night of
despair; that is, that its worst foes can be made to disappear in due
time by attack directed at their common root.

Not the knife of the surgeon, not the poison of the physician of the old
school, but simply harmonizing the individual life with the laws of
nature, will eradicate the cause.

The tremendous importance of the subject, the wide field to be covered,
makes it wellnigh impossible to treat the matter within the present
limits as extensively as it should be treated. A large part of my book,