PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS XIX 



can scarcely be reckoned in numbers ; or if reckoned, could 

 scarcely be imagined — 4,772 billions, — and these would weigh no 

 less than 7,500 tons. Fortunately for us, long before the oft'- 

 spring reach even into the millions, their rate of multiplication 

 is checked either by lack of food or by the accumulation of their 

 own secreted products which are injurious to them. 



Nor have I referred to the life history of these organisms nor 

 the artificial methods of cultivating them and keeping their 

 strain pure. That can be seen daily — and it is well worth 

 seeing — in the Bacteriological Laboratory, an Institution of 

 which we in Queensland may very well be proud. 



I know I undertook a very large order when I christened 

 my address ; and now, too late, I am aware I have not been 

 able to complete my contract, but at least I have submitted 

 some scattered specimens of what ought to be, and if from 

 these you can realise the dynamics of a microscopic world and 

 appreciate the obligations we are under to lowly life in its most 

 elementary form, the past hour has not been spent in vain. 



I cannot help thinking that bacterial reductions and 

 decompositions are the real mills of God, referred to by 

 Longfellow : — 



Though the mills of God grind slowly, 



Yet they grind exceeding small ; 

 Though with patience He stands waiting, 



With exactness grinds He all. 



REFERENCES. 



1, Angell: Wine ; 2, Bennett: Physiolor/y ; 3, Chamber's Encyclopcedia: 

 articles, Life, and Spontaneous Generation : 4, Conn : The Story of Germ 

 Life; 5, Crookshank : Bacteriology; G, Drinkwater : Bread; 7, Durie : 

 Beer and Brewing ; 8, Fraenkel : Bacteriology ; 9, Frankland : 0)ir Secret 

 Friendx and Foea ; 10, Green : Birtli and Growth of WorUU ; 11, Griffiths : 

 Micro-Organ is nifi ; 12, v. Jaksch : Clinical Diagnosis ,- 13, Kendall : Seicerage 

 and Health ; 14, Kanthack : The General Pathology of Infection, Allbutt\-^ 

 System of Medicine, Vol. 1 ; 15, Muir and Kitchie : Bacteriology; 16, New- 

 man: Bacteria, Progressire Science Series ; 17, Sims Woodhead : /jflc/crfffl 

 and their Products; 18, Tyndall: Floating Matter in tite Air. 



