218 The Story of the Bacteria 



more of the uncanny brood, and could study 

 and manipulate them as the gardener does his 

 larger plants, and from the knowledge thus 

 gained plan new and efficient means for treat- 

 ing and preventing the diseases which they 

 cause. But all this is strictly true to-day, as 

 we have seen in our review of man's invisible 

 foes and the ravages which they can cause. 



And so at last we are at the end of our 

 story, so far as in such simple and hurried 

 fashion it can be told to-day. It is a story 

 which in parts is full of disquieting and un- 

 pleasant revelations, of facts which at first 

 sight seem to make life under modern condi- 

 tions less simple and attractive, and Nature, 

 less man's friend. But after all there are 

 few things more disquieting and unpleasant 

 and unfriendly, to most people, than are 

 disease and death, and these, sooner or later, 

 will thrust themselvs into the attention of 

 everybody, be he cognizant or not of the 

 varied disregard of nature's laws which for 

 the most part they follow. 



It should not be forgotten by those who are 

 disposed to close their eyes to the disagreeable 



