18 MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



The fact however is established that artificial immunity to disease may 

 be produced in aiiimals against a large number of infectious diseases. 



Practical methods of vaccination against certain animal diseases have 

 been perfected by Pasteur and his pupils. This is notably true in chicken 

 cholera, hog erysipelas and in anthrax. This principle has not been 

 extended to man unless we include under this head the last great work 

 of Pasteur on the prevention of hydrophobia. We have but to look over 

 the 30 years of constant work devoted by Pasteur to the study of bacteria 

 in order to appreciate the incalculable benefits which have been con- 

 ferred on science and' on humanity by this master. 



The prevention of h3"drophobia in persons bitten by mad animals is 

 the crowning achievement of a long life's work. The names of Jenner 

 and of Pasteur will endure as long as science itself, as long as there are 

 men willing to search for truth. 



The prevention of the spread of infectious diseases is without doubt 

 one of the greatest and most fruitful results of the age. But the 

 bacteriologist cannot and must not stop at this point. The rational 

 treatment of the disease itself claims his attention. A few years ago a 

 distinguished physician gave utterance to the statement that the study 

 of bacteria as causes of disease, though interesting in itself, could not 

 furnish any means to treat such diseases. Today, it is otherwise. The 

 bacteriologist has already entered upon the cure of infectious diseases 

 and even now two diseases have been robbed largely of their dreaded 

 character. These are tetanus and diphtheria. The blood serum therapy 

 which has been developed and perfected by Behring, Kitasato, Roux 

 Tizzoni and others marks the dawn of a new era. The brilliant results 

 in curing tetanus and especially diphtheria in man will prove all the 

 more an incentive to the further study of these and other diseases. 



Such are some of the practical results, accomplished by bacteriology. 

 To utilize those organisms which are useful to man and to destroy those 

 which are injurious, either before or after they secure an entrance into 

 the body of men and animals, constitutes in brief the line along which 

 incalculable benefits will accrue to man. 



I cannot close this necessarily brief paper without a plea for the intro- 

 duction of the study of bacteria into our lower schools. Education must 

 extend from below upwards and it is time that such a beginning be made 

 in the study of bacteria. I would not ask, at least for the present, that 

 a special course be given to this subject, but I would ask that classes in 

 botany be instructed as to the nature of bacteria and their role in 

 nature and in disease; that the classes in hygiene or in physiology 

 become acquainted with the principal infectious diseases and their pre- 

 vention. As matters now stand only the favored few in universities 

 and in medical colleges become acquainted with the facts that are of 

 vital importance to all. The mass of the people can never be reached 

 in this way. It is well to teach children the antidotes for poisons, what 

 to do in case of accident, drowning, etc., the evils of tobacco and of 

 alcohol. Why should not the most deadly foe of man receive a like 

 attention? 



Hvgienic Laboratorv. I'niversitv of Michigan. 



