NOMENCLATURE AND CLASSIFICATION OF BACTERIA 593 



Perhaps our fundamental difficulty is to know whether we, 

 as bacteriologists, are zoologists or botanists. Both of these 

 groups of scientists have formulated and revised from time to 

 time in international congresses, elaborate codes of nomenclature, 

 not perfect perhaps, but helpful and necessary. A study of the 

 WTitings of protozoologists, helminthologists, and those dealing 

 with microscopic forms of Ufe definitely on the zoological side 

 of the fence will show that they have appUed their code with a 

 considerable degree of satisfaction; information in regard to their 

 subjects can, in consequence, be quite satisfactorily systema- 

 tized. The algologists, mycologists, and most of the botanists, 

 have likewise worked out their schemes of classification in ac- 

 cordance with definite rules. The bacteriologists on the other 

 hand have thus far failed to agree on any scheme of classi- 

 fication, and many are rebellious against any of the restraints 

 imposed by formal nomenclature. Frequently nomenclature and 

 classification have been confused in our minds. We have been 

 unable in many cases to define what is meant by the term bac- 

 terial species, we hesitate to give a name to that which we can 

 not accm-ately define. But it is equally true that species have 

 not been accurately delimited in the older biological sciences, 

 and this fact has not interfered with at least tentative arrange- 

 ments of genera and higher groups, nor with the appHcation of 

 correct names. 



A careful search of our hterature fails to show that any group 

 of bacteriologists has thus far formally agreed upon any code 

 or system of nomenclature. Inasmuch as the bacteria are to 

 be regarded as plants, the natural suggestion is that we should 

 follow the botanists' code. But within recent years bacteri- 

 ologists have shown a tendency to term themselves microbiolo- 

 gists in order to make it evident that a portion of the zoological 

 field is to be covered as well. Furthermore there is no perfect 

 accord as yet as to where certain microorganisms belong; forms 

 such as spirochetes, which certainly are within the province of 

 bacteriology, may be regarded as either animals or plants. 



A careful study of the botanical and zoological codes will 

 show them to be very similar in most essential characteristics. 



