The story of germ life : bacteria / by H.W. Conn.

  • Herbert William Conn
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The story of germ life : bacteria / by H.W. Conn. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE. The rapid progress of discovery in the last few years has created a very general interest in bacteria. Few people who read could be found to-day who have not some little idea of these organisms and their relation to disease. It is, however, unfortunately a fact that it is only their relation to disease which has been impressed upon the public. The very word bacteria, or microbe, conveys to most people an idea of evil. The last few years have above all things empha- sised the importance of these organisms in many relations entirely independent of disease, but this side of the subject has not yet attracted very general attention, nor does it yet appeal to the reader with any special force. It is the purpose of the following pages to give a brief outline of our knowledge of bacteria and their importance in the world, including not only their well-known agency in causing disease, but their even greater importance as agents in other natural phenomena. It is hoped that the result may be to show that these organisms are to be regarded not primarily in the light of enemies, but as friends, and thus to correct some of the very general but erroneous ideas concerning their relation to our life. April, 1897.