1896.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 155 



The Nature and Manufacture of Bacterial Products, 



By E. M. HOUGHTON, Ph. G., M. D. 



DETROIT, MICH. 



There is a growing demand among pharmacists for 

 more information regarding the origin, properties and 

 processes of manufacture of the various bacterial products 

 that are creating so much interest among all classes of 

 people, with special reference to those employed as thera- 

 peutic agents. The purpose of this paper is to give in 

 a general way the more important facts relating to the 

 microscopical slides, culture media, toxins, antitoxins, and 

 other products of this nature that are found on the 

 market. 



The origin of all these preparations is those minute, 

 unicellular, vegetable organisms we call bacteria, which 

 are species of fungi very closely related to yeast and 

 molds. So inconceivably small are these forms of life 

 that, according to the estimate of Bujwid, eight billions 

 of pus-germs weigh but a single milligram. Had we an 

 instrument capable of magnifying a man of average 

 stature in the same proportion as we do bacteria to study 

 their characteristics, he would appear about four times 

 as large as Mount Washington. We might almost com- 

 pare them in size to the chemist's atoms ; indeed, until a 

 few years since, we knew far more about atoms than we 

 did about germs. Now, owing to improved methods of 

 microscopical study, we are enabled to observe many 

 phases in the cycle of life of these microscopic plants. 



Scientists have classified bacteria in various ways. 

 The most important classification is based on form, and 

 presents three great classes : micrococci, bacilli, and 

 spirilli. 



The micrococci are spherical germs, which, according 

 to grouping, are given more comprehensive names. 

 When occurring singly or in irregular masses (Fig 1) we 



