INTKODUCTION 3 



discussion of chemotherapeutic action falls logically into 

 place here since it is held to depend on interference with 

 the metabolic activities of the bacteria. The consideration 

 of the by-products of metabolic and respiratory processes, 

 the fermentation products in which man is mainly 

 interested, follows naturally. Then the substances 

 s}Tithesised by the organisms for their own use are 

 detailed. Finally a brief outline of the chemistry of 

 antigens, antibodies and their reactions is presented. 



The usual difficulty with regard to the consistent 

 naming of bacteria has been encountered. In the absence 

 of any standardised procedure in this country it has been 

 considered desirable to adopt the nomenclature sanctioned 

 by the Society of American Bacteriologists as exemplified 

 in Bergey's " Manual of Determinative Bacteriology " 

 (Fifth Edition). The common (as opposed to the 

 scientific) names of certain organisms have been used in 

 some instances. A list of synonyms covering cases 

 which may cause confusion has been added as Appendix II. 



