Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-05-27
Some Useful Microbes.

The psychologists are learning to
lures which they study. When the
startling world of microorgansms
was discovered there was nothing but
hard words for it. The first bacteria
found were those of disease. and the
bacteriologists were so Mortified by
their misdeeds that they condemned
the whole tribe of micro-organisms to
death without inquiring further into
the matter. The humorist and the
comic artist lend aid in blasting their
regulations, making jokes and drawing
imaginary pictures of microbes with
horrible jaws. eyes and tentacles. un-
til the mere word bacteria came to
mean something dreadful. 1t was
much like mentioning 4 cobra or boa
constructor to even speak of them.
Pasteur-the great, wise Pasteur-
80 feared bacteria that he kept bowl
of scalding water by his plate at
meals, dipping his dishes. knives and
forks into it before using them by
way of preventing the smallest mi
crobe from passing his lips-and did,
in fact, prevent it so effectually that
he ruined his digestion. poor man. For
in scalding the evil-disDosed bacteria
to death he scalded many more that
were necessary in carrying on the
work Of his stomach. and so deprived
himself of their aid.
The bacteriologists now know that
there are many well meaning microbes
among their charges. The mcrobe
tribes are made up like those of the
larger creatures. There are useful
harmless cows and dogs and sheep
and poultry as well as murderous
tigers, lions and vampire bats in the
microbe world. In fact. the useful
bacteria are in the majority, just as
the useful animals outnumber the
savage ones.
The bacteriologists have lately
found several most promising species
among them. There ia one tribe. for
example, that may be turned into
scavengers. They are very greedy
for refuse of all kinds. and it is sug,
gested by the sanguine that in time
they may be raised in large tanks
and made to devour the garbage of
cities. Another microbe in favor Just
now is one that furnishes light The
bacteriologists are very guarded in
talking Of it, and do not want to prom
ise too much. but they admit that
this new micro-organism may be in
duced to give serviceable light in the
future. 1t is the microbe that makes
phosphorescent fishes luminous.
Heretofore it was generally thought
that this light came from PHOSPHORUS
like that used in matches. but the ex-
periments with these microbes prove
otherwise. BY placing the flesh of
fresh haddocks or herrings in weak
brine and keeping it at 40 degrees
above zero for few DAYS the fish.
as well as the brine itself, becomes
luminous, giving off pale green light.
That is one way of bottling up
this firefly microbe-a Culture" the
bacteriologists call it. When this cul-
ture is well under way o remarkable
trait of microbe character Is re-
vealed. 1t is found that this partcu-
lar microbe has a love for sugar-a
veritable sweet tooth. When sugar is
added to the culture it becomes so
brilliant that II can be photographed
by its own light Still the bacteriol-
ogists are not willing to raise false
hopes. They will not say that such
cultures can be used for lamps-nor
will they positively say that such a
miracle is impossible. They wish to
study these microbes further. But
they are much gratified by their find
ings in the bacteria world, and expect,
to discover many more wonderful
creatures in it during the next decade.
Chicago Record.