214 THOSE OTHER ANIMALS. 



fire, and has invented the safety lamp as a protection for 

 those who work in mines. He has muzzled the dog in 

 order to escape the fabulously re- 

 mote risk of hydrophobia, and he 

 has laid down strict regulations to 

 diminish the chances of his being 

 blown up by explosives. He has 

 fenced himself in by sanitary regula- 

 tions to preserve himself against the CHOLERA BACILLUS (Natural 



evil effect of foul smells, and has 



flattered himself that by these and many other precautions 

 he has done what he could to ensure 

 for himself prolonged life. And yet 

 all this time the bacillus has been 

 carrying on his work unsuspected, 

 laughing, in whatever passes as his 

 sleeve, as he yearly sweeps away his 



SMALL-POX BACILLUS (Natural tens of millions of victims. It has, 

 in fact, been a new and terrible 



illustration of the saying, "Out of sight, out of mind." 



Proud man, who slays the whale for 



its oil, and the elephant for its ivory, 



has been slain by his invisible foe, 



the bacillus; and, like a soldier 



brought down by a long range 



bullet, has not even had the satis- 

 faction Of knowing who was his TYPHOID BACILLUS (Natura 



slayer. 



The microscope has long since discovered to him the 

 existence of innumerable creatures, invisible to the naked 

 eye ; he has learnt that the water he drank teemed with ani- 



