Page 9 - Ethel D. Hume - Bešam ili Paster: Izgubljeno poglavlje u istoriji biologije

NOTE TO SECOND EDITION
6
printed word, the precedence of Bechamp's pronounce-
ments to Pasteur's stands secure for good and all. Never-
theless, this personal side of the subject, in spite of its
importance from the point of view of historical justice, is
of less consequence than the results of building medical
practice upon the insecure theoretical foundation de-
scribed by Sir Almroth Wright as "the Pasteurian
Decalogue." Of these commandments, he states, as
reported in The Times of November 27th, 1931, "very few
remain intact." On the other hand, there are increasing
indications of modern medical views converging towards
the microzymian doctrine. For instance, in Health,
Disease and Integration, by H. P. Newsholme, M.A., M.D.,
F.R.C.P., B.Sc, P.D.H., a book published in 1929, on
page 64, we find "the idea of a possible autonomous (self-
produced) living enzyme or virus capable of giving rise to
disease and capable of multiplication by reason of its
living quality." The science of bio-chemistry, which
occupies so wide a field to-day, is in no small measure an
expansion of the teaching of Bechamp; while the remark-
able results of X-Radiation lend support to his contention
that in the microzymas (of the chromatinic threads)
lies the secret of heredity. Reference may be made to the
first of two articles by G. P. Haskins in the General Electric
Review of July, 1932.
OfBechamp, a story is related ofhow, when a tiny child,
he was once caught telling a lie. His mother, on hearing of
this on her return home in the evening, then and there
turned her small son out of bed and, while whipping him
soundly, impressed upon him her horror of falsehood.
Bechamp, it is said, attributed his passionate regard for
exactitude to this early lesson, which he never forgot.
To all others, known and unknown, to whom Truth is
precious, I am proud to dedicate the new edition of this
book.
E. DOUGLAS HUME.
Woodford Wells.
October, igj2.