Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-01-10
VEGETABLE BACTERIA
Chapter on Elementary Wonders Of
Plant Life. 80. (. ..ft.
MYSTERIES REVEALED By MICROSCOPE

! Gaming billons OF Germs HA6o ~"
ceasins Battle for .Aeaith and
strength, Disease and Decay Hssip,
Of knowledge That Has Been Bot
Partially Explored. "
For The YorRyille Enquirer,
Thomas Dixon wrote in "The Clans +.
man" Of an invisible empire" existing
in the south during reconstruction and
which accomplished much good for our
people.
At the present time there exists an
invisible kingdom vastly outnumbering
the invisible empire and bringing
about changes far more wonderful. yet
few of us ever pause in our work or
pleasure to think Of this invisible king
dom, although quite a number OF Its
members are indispensable to human
life and not a few are our deadlfest
enemies. This kingdom consists of
those members of the plant kingdom
which are invisible to the naked eye
and are known as bacteria.
To gain any satisfactory knowledge
as to the size shape and life- habits OF
these extremely small plants one must
resort to the use of high powered
miscroscope.
The unit employed in measuring bac-
terra Is the micron which Is one one
thousandth of one millinfeter Referred
TO the English system Of measure the
micron is approximately one-twenty-
five -thousandth of an inch. Bacteria
range from one-tenth micron to ten
microns in length. but by far the
greater number range between one-haft
micron and FIVE microns in length.
The extreme minuteness Of bacteria
organisms is emphasized by the fact
that one billion can live in quart Of
| milk and not be so crowded as four
people are in Ford touring car.
Again, II 10000 of the smallest bac-
terra were lined up end to end they
would extend one inch. 5000 Of the
largest would have the same total
length. There are three general shapes
Of bacteria-splenical cylindrical and
spiral.
All bacteria are microscopic. unicel-
lular, plants, reproducing by assure
and being devoid OF chlorcphyi. Bac-
terra are plants. yet they have the
power. Of locomotion and will wheH
possible Change their snyll0nnnent 20
better suit their habits OF life. sas
The progress made In medicine DUR
ling the past fifty years is almost en-
tirely due to the knowledge Of bacteri1
gained during the iast one hundred
wears. II It were not for our knowledge
Of bacteria we would have no germ
theory of disease and consequently no
vaccines and antitoxins. Also we
would have no method by which to as
certain the purity Of our water sup
Files in cities.
The manufacture Of vinegar by both
the Orleans and the German method. is
dependent upon the presence Of bacte-
ria capable Of bringing about the oxi-
dation of grain alcohol to acetic acid.
The fermentation of sugar to produce
alcohol depends upon the action OF
yeasts. The yeasts are not bacteria,
but are closely related to them.
The cheese industry Is based upon
the action Of bacteria capable OF curd-
ling milk.
The nitrogen fxatlon property OF the
legumes is due to bacteria. AL our
methods of food preservation, from
home canning to cold storage. are de-
pendent upon the conditions under
which bacteria will live and multiply.
If it were not for the bacteria respon-
sible for putrefaction and decay our
planet would long ago have become un-
inhabitable, because the earth would
have been covered with dead bodies for
which there would have been no means
of disposal
Although bacteria are responsible Tor
our most dreaded diseases, the greater
number are indispensable to our very
existence.
There are probably large number or
bacteria which have escaped ooserva-
ton. being too small to be visible with
our best microscope. 1t is not probapie
that much improvement will be made
in the modern microscope, because
magnifications require more convex ana
smaller lenses, necessitating greater
difficulty in grinding and adjusting.
Also, one of the optical laws OF ply
sizes is to the effect that a distinct view
and accurate determination of size ana
shape cannot be obtained IL the length
of the object to be observed Is less than
one half the wave-length Of the light
used for it's examination. 49,
Bolivar Byers.oi
Rock Hill. January 5, 1922. sya"o..