PEDAGOGICS OF BACTERIOLOGY 7 



in the decomposition of organic matter as they work over the use- 

 less constituents of dead plants and animals into forms in which 

 they may be utihzed as food by the higher plants is of the greatest 

 importance in nature. The control and purposeful utihzation of 

 this same function of the bacteria in the preparation and pres- 

 ervation of food materials for man and animals, and the relation 

 of the bacteria to water and sewage purification, are examples of 

 the regulation of bacterial action for the economic and hygienic 

 advantage of the human race. Of equal significance are the utiU- 

 zations of the functions of the bacteria in agriculture, in domestic 

 science and the industries; and of even greater importance are 

 the methods of controlling the action of the bacteria in their re- 

 lations to sanitary science and clinical medicine. 



The earhest practical application of bacteriology was to the 

 fermentation industries through the investigations of Louis 

 Pasteur. This was soon followed by his pioneer work in dis- 

 eases of animals, especially chicken cholera and anthrax. In 

 this latter field Pasteur laid the foundations for our later work 

 in immunology and protective inoculations while the studies of 

 Robert Koch paved the way for the application of bacteriology 

 to the solution of problems in the etiology of disease and in 

 sanitary science. 



The earliest demand for a knowledge of bacteriology came from 

 the medical profession, concerning the activities of the patho- 

 genic bacteria, and the first courses were given to graduates in 

 medicine. These were followed later by courses for under- 

 graduate students of medicine, of dentistry, and of veterinary- 

 medicine. The extension of our knowledge of the activities of 

 bacteria in nature, in fields other than disease production, soon 

 led to the development of courses for the sanitarian, the student 

 of dairying, and the student of agriculture. In all these courses 

 chief stress was laid upon the practical application of the knowl- 

 edge gained to the solution of problems arising in these difi'erent 

 fields. The concentration of endeavor and interest along such 

 lines has yielded a great fund of knowledge which is now being 

 utilized in enhancing the welfare of man. 



In recent years there has been a slowly growing demand for a 



