102 THE STORY OF THE BACTERIA. 



considerably from them. The attempts which 

 have thus far been made to find bacteria to 

 which it seems likely that it may owe its origin 

 have not been successful, although several 

 claims in this direction have been widely pub- 

 lished. 



Malaria. 



Malaria, in its protean phases, has been 

 thought by many to be caused by bacteria, but 

 the reliable observations thus far made do not 

 appear to support this view. There are pecul- 

 iar minute organisms very constantly found 

 in the blood in certain stages of malarial 

 poisoning which may ultimately prove to be 

 the cause of the attacks. But as this is not 

 yet definitely settled, and as at any rate the 

 suspected organisms are not bacteria, but be- 

 long in that lowly group of animals called 

 protozoa, we need not consider them further 

 here. 



