South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-21
-4boutFossi[s
md Microbes
BY Garrett p. Serviss.

Etd DEUS AlDChuEA q AAAAAAA ca AAAAA-
lion years ago; how Is this time es-
timated? Another thing 1 would like
explained in your clear way is the
theory Of bacteria. a person gets
scarlet fever or grippe; are the
germs found present with these
diseases created within the body.
or are they natural species of life
always in nature, and ready 10 work
on the person when he is in weak
condition ?-Sherwoo Williams"
Answer az. The geologist would
never make estimates in ordinary
measures of time, except for the
desire to give the layman a clearer
idea of the great length OF the
geOIogist record. For himself the
geolOgist does not think in years
or centuries, but in vast successive
and irregular periods. blending into
one another without sharply fixed
limits.
There is no first Of January or
S1st Of Deem Der for a geological
period and no division Of geological
time into equal portions like the
links of a chain. or the degrees of
a circle. The length Of a geological
period is roughly determined by the
relative thickness Of the deposits
laid down during its continuance,
and then gradually changed into
rock. Through observation of the
time required for similar, though
incomparably smaller deposits 10 be
formed within historical time,
more or less correct estimate may
be made OF the length Of a geologi-
cal period the average thickness of
whose strata has been ascertained.
A great number OF considerations
enter into the question. however,
such as the time required for the
evolution Of the living forms found
in the successive strata, and when
we say that the Silurian sea beds
are sea beaches were formed a hun
dred million years ago we may be
many millions Of years out Of the
way. but there is a plenty OF room,
and our estimate is more likely to
be under than over the truth.
Oldest Form of Life.
Answer ~. Bacteria are micro
scopic organisms of a vegetable ma
ture. They are minute plants, Of an
exceedingly simple form, and so
small that the naked eye cannot
see them. But they are "a natural
species of life" just as much as is
any plant or vegetable. In fact they
may be regarded as coming nearer
than any other organisms now eX-
listing on the earth to the first, or
primary. forms of life on this
planet, because some of them still
retain the power to work up, unaid-
ed. nitrogen and carbon from in
organic sources.
So far from looking upon
micrCbe as an impudent interlopcr
in the arena Of life, we ought rather
TO consider il as a kind of grand
fatherly link between nebula and
man.
Bacteria, then, having no occa-
sion TO ask anybOdy's permission to
live on the earth, enjoy as free use
of the soil. the water and the air as
belongs 10 any of the other crea-
lures. and being able TO multiply by
simple subdivision. or automatic
splitting-in-two Ga process which.
in some cases is repeated every half
hour or less). it is manifest that
they are quite able to maintain
themselves here below and that as
they antedated man, so they may
also outlive him.
Useful Bacteria.
= to-
OF bacteria is without Justification,
for there are many species which
promote the welfare Of man. and
even aid him to live and to get a
living. Think of the enormous ser
vices rendered not only 70 US. but
10 all kinds Of animals who live
upon the products OF the soil. by the
nitrOgen-fxing bacteria whose habi-
tat is the ground. among the roots
of plants Not all the manures and
fertilizers in existence could save
our farms from becoming sterile
and our families from starvation
without the aid OF those microscopic
workers in the soil. who. though
their bodies may consist of only a
single cell, and they have no sign
Of a brain. are more powerful
chemists than any that experiment
in our Laboratories.
Then. consider what bacteria do
for us in the production of butter,
cheese. wine. beer. cider. vinegar.
etc. through the lamentations and
chemical changes that they bring
about.
Milk is one of the favorite homes
of bacteria. II is crowded with
various kinds OF them-sonae dan
gerous and disease breeding. like
the tubercle bacilli and others in
nocent and useful, like the ferment
producers. Fortunately the mimi
cal species can be destroyed by
steriliza ton.
Fight Their own Kin.
Even those kinds Of bacteria
which, if introduced into the human
system in ordinary circumstances.
attack the machinery Of life with
the utmost virulence, producing
fevers and devouring diseases. may
be tanned and turned into defenders
Of our body by a process of training
which deprices them Of their fierce
ness. though not Of their power 20
produce certain changes which in
sure immunity against the attacks