PREFACE OF FIRST EDITION 



The elaborate system of classification of the bacteria into families, tribes 

 and genera by a Committee on Characterization and Classification of the 

 Society of American Bacteriologists (1917, 1920) has made it very desirable 

 to be able to place in the hands of students a more detailed key for the 

 identification of species than any that is available at present. The valuable 

 book on "Determinative Bacteriology" by Professor F. D. Chester, pub- 

 lished in 1901, is now of very little assistance to the student, and all previous 

 classifications are of still less value, especially as earlier systems of classifica- 

 tion were based entirely on morphologic characters. 



It is hoped that this manual will serve to stimulate efforts to perfect the 

 classification of bacteria, especially by emphasizing the valuable features 

 as well as the weaker points in the new system which the Committee of the 

 Society of American Bacteriologists has promulgated. The Committee 

 does not regard the classification of species offered here as in any sense 

 final, but merely a progress report leading to more satisfactory classification 

 in the future. 



The Committee desires to express its appreciation and thanks to those 

 members of the society who gave valuable aid in the compilation of material 

 and the classification of certain species. . . . 



The assistance of all bacteriologists is earnestly solicited in the correction 

 of possible errors in the text ; in the collection of descriptions of all bacteria 

 that may have been omitted from the text; in supplying more detailed 

 descriptions of such organisms as are described incompletely; and in furnish- 

 ing complete descriptions of new organisms that may be discovered, or in 

 directing the attention of the Committee to publications of such newly 

 described bacteria. 



David H. Bergey, Chairman 

 Francis C. Harrison 

 Robert S. Breed 

 Bernard W. Hammer 

 Frank M. Huntoon 

 Committee on Manual. 

 August, 1923. 



