Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.

ease germs. Yet, modern scientists, believing in this doctrine, invoke the aid of water-closets and stationary wash-stands, and assure the credulous public that sewer, gas is harmless when perfectly filtered through water traps and germ-preventive taps." " Stop ! " cried Paulus Androcydes, in a fury. " Do you wish to destroy public confidence in our present sys- tem of house drainage and disposal of excreta ? Do you desire to ruin our plumbers and sanitary experts, by such false and malicious assertions. Know, my Egyp- tian friend, that I have an interest in two water traps and a patent sewer-pipe." ** Aha ! aha !" laughed Athothis, blinking his spiritual eyes in merriment. "I now perceive why you are such a warm advocate of the germ theory. Besides, you for- get the large annual income you derive from those of your clients who are poisoned by sewer gas and polluted water. However, if modern peoples are willing to admit that sewer gas is poison, either from its germs or other inherent toxic properties, and encourage the introduction of zymotic diseases into their households., even submit- ting to the enactment of laws forcing property-holders to open sewers in their bed-rooms and kitchens, I do not think that an old Egyptian of the first dynasty need grieve; for, after all, these modern sanitary appliances only tend to hasten primal transmigration, as they have admirably done in the case of this little child, who is now about to quit her mortal tenement; for, look! she is passing out!" The last rays of the setting sun kissed the face of the baby girl, who, reclining against the warm, tender bosom from which she had drawn life, gasped feebly at long in-