Se 
NOTES ON MICRO-ORGANISMS. 35 
Bacterium termo by means of spray containing the latter 
organism. It is affirmed that Bacterium termo will so thrive as 
to kill out the former occupant, and that the septic condition 
so induced can be cured by ordinary antiseptic treatment. As 
yet this highly interesting process lacks substantiation. One 
objection appears to me against the whole affair, namely, that 
inherent defects of the system, or other predisposing causes, 
probably allow the tubercle Bacillus to commence its growth, 
and one can hardly believe that Bacterium termo, or any other 
organism, could remove these radical tendencies. 
We will conclude with some considerations relative to the age 
of Bacteria, and the position they occupy amongst other 
organisms. 
It is a matter of certainty that some forms of Bacteria have 
existed on this earth from some very distant period of its history, 
for well-defined Bacteria have been -discovered by Van Tieghem 
in thin sections of fossil roots of coniferze and other fossilised 
vegetable remains from the coal measures. The organism is 
almost identical with an existing species known as Clostridium 
butyricum (Plate IJ., Fig. 4), and shows various characteristic 
stages of development ; whilst the fossil membrane in which they 
are embedded gives such indications of destruction as are 
associated with a Bacterial growth. 
It is an interesting fact that the tartar removed from teeth of 
an Egyptian mummy exhibits a micro-organism identical with 
what is known at the present time as Leptothrix buccalis, which 
is associated with caries of the teeth. So, perhaps the ancient 
Egyptians, possibly even the Pharoahs themselves, did not enjoy 
immunity from the distracting cares of an aching tooth. 
An interesting field for speculation is afforded by considera- 
tions as to what course of evolution, or perhaps involution, gave 
rise to Bacteria. It seems probable that they were originally 
retrograde forms from some higher organism, and having acquired, 
like the moulds, a parasitic habit in respect to vegetable life, they 
adapted themselves gradually to the richer food afforded by © 
animal substances. A well-defined fossil mould has also been 
