Well that's right. Simply stubbing your toe in the garden once came with the possibility of death! That said, it was usually because they didn't get the help they needed soon enough. The same happens today but you go the GP and get a cream and the danger is past. On the other hand today I think too many folks go too far in the other direction with disinfectant. With hand soap, floor wash, dish wash, clothes detergent.. just about anything these days. I grew up drinking from the creek (now considered an urban drain) at the end of the street and eating mud... didn't kill me. No need to overboard in either direction.
