The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-03-17
LESSONS IN BAcrER1oLoGY.-

LESSONS IN BACTERIOLOGY.-I.
To understand fairly the so-caIled
"germ-diseases," it is essential to
know, to some extent, the life-history
of the microbes in general, and some of
them in particular.
The word bacteria, in refernce to the
sO-called germs Of disease, is rather re-
strictive, because it implies that among
micrO-Organisms, the class known as
bacteria is alone capable of causing
disease. 1t is thought now that such
is not exactly the case there r patho-
genie micrO-organisms that belong
seemingly to other classes of beings.
The word micrObe seems more suitable
Is a general term.
However that may be, it is absolutely
proved that many diseases r due to
living forms of the bacteria group. In
these maladies, the exceedingly minute,
microscopic beings are parasites, and,
generally speaking, some authors think
that mOcrO-parasitic organisms would
better express their Specification than
disease germs" though there are
some very small parasites more highly
organized than bacteria.
Bacteria live almost everywhere-in
the air, water, soil, on and in living
bodies, ETC., and still comparatively
few of them are injurious; these are
the microbes which happen to find
cOngenial soil in living tissues and
fluids.
The microbic or bacterial diseases,
then, are, after all, parasitic affections.
So far as their Geological classification
is concerned, they might be included
under the ordinary heading of parasitic.
maladies, though there is a vast differ
ence as to the size and organization Of
the parasites, for all such agents have
properties in common that is, whether
large or small, visible or invisible with
the nabed eye, they live at the expense
of other organisms, and transform pOr-
tions of the latter2s bodies for their own
nOurishment.
The bacteria have been termed
Schizomycetes, by Nageli; they are
unicellular organisms, and their mode
of digestion and life is such, that the
transformations which they cause in
the nOurishing material harborihg
them, is wonderful and great, incOm-
parably greater, indeed, than those
produced by higher organisms.
1t becomes necessary, then, in order
to understand microbic affections, to
study the physiological conditions, and
somewhat the biological chemistry of
these infinitely little creatures.
Pasteur, in his investig atoms in or
ganic chemistry, discovered and proved
the living nature Of ferments. The
fermentation of beer, wine, cider, ETC.,
is now admittedly due to the rapid re-
production of minute organisms in the
mediums in fermentation. Pasteur
reasoned from this, that possibly the
minute foreign bodies found in certain
diseases, were also some kinds of fer
ments, and that the changes or lessons
found in the tissues, blood, etc., were
alterations and transformations due to
the growth and sustenance of these in
dividuals at the expense of their hosts.
This preconceived idea has been amply
supported by facts since proved. The
only striking difference is, that germs
living at the expense of live tissues,
such as septic microbes in a wound,
encounter the natural resistance of the
organized living cells of the body they
have invaded, while the ferment in
dead matter encounters no resistance
from an opposing life.
The parasitic germs Tor ferments, or
microbes, or bacteria, or schizOmycetes,
if you please, cause disease, therefore,
simply because they find in animal
bodies (and even in plants) elements
that they can transform and utilize for
their W nOurishment. They break
up more or less HUing material and by
that means manage to exist, while
causing thereby very naturally mOr
or less disturbance in the invaded or
ganism. The invasion is resisted in a
degree by the cells constituting (and
new cells generated i'm the system at
tackled, and there ensues a fight for
supremacy and existence. The cells of
the body are our soldiers, and their
defense of the fort against the armies
of parasitic germs is admirable and
sublime.
A ferment is the decomposition of
already organized matter into its pris-
tine elements, which are drawn pri-
marily fremthe air and water-directly
by plants, and Indirectly by animals.
Suppose, then, that the atmosphere
and the water did not receive by some
means a new supply of these necessary
elements for the formation of living
organisms, what must be the inevitable
result? Universal failure Of Efee The
world must get back a supply of the
elements used and necessary to form
bodies, or life cannot be. The air once
devoid of these limited organizable ele-
ments~ necessary to form tissue In plants
and animals, there can be no more
growth or generation of living things.
Now, what does return these organic
able elements to the universe? Fer
ment! Germs! Microbes!
These invisible mites are, indeed, the
CONFERENCE.-The necessary to the exist