Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1884 — Bacteria. [ARTICLE]

Bacteria.

Bacteria have their name from their rod-like shape. They are vegetation so minute as to be visible only by the aid of powerful microscopes. They multiply by division, each rod separating into two parts. Then each part speedily becomes a complete whole, but soon divides into two parts. It will be seen what countless numbers must result. The view has been extensively adopted that these microscopic vegetations are the actual poison that produces most infectious diseases. Prof. Lionel Beale, F. B. S., knighted for his attainments in microscopy and medicine, is not prepared to accept this. We present a condensed statement of his views. The tongue is constantly covered by whole forests of bacteria. Millions pass into the stomach whenever we swallow. It is the same with all animals. Every vegetable and fruit and leaf also contains countless numbers. -So does the air we breathe and the water we drink. All disintegration and decay facilitated the growth of this minute vegetation. It is certain now that bacteria in large quantities are constantly psfesing into men and animals without doing harm. There is probably not a part of the body of any one of us, one-quarter of an inch’-m dniim?ter, where theh’ germs are not present. So small are they that they pass freely into the substance of every organ. They exist within us, even in the blood, without disturbing us in any way. In disease their numbers are vastly increased. It is still an open question whether ■ infectious diseases originate from some special kind of death-carry-ing bacteria; or from practices wholly independent of all such organisms. Though some evidence has been adduced in favor of the first hypothesis, many new facts must be discovered before the problem is solved. — Floral World.