3 



which in earlier days was strained to cover a 

 much wider range of phenomena than future 

 investigations sanctioned. 



Bacteriology is essentially a present-day sci- 

 ence. The practical results which flow directly 

 from its study need no emphasis, as they form 

 so important a part of scientific endeavor that 

 they cannot be overlooked. They strike home 

 so closely to the life of every individual that 

 the teachings of the science have been accorded 

 a reception in the public mind which shows us 

 the responsibility as well as the opportunity 

 that is before us. The degree of activity which 

 is to be noted indicates a virile, growing sub- 

 ject. If one is to keep up in any considerable 

 measure with the literature of the day, he finds 

 a strenuous course laid out for him. 



The rapid progress accorded the science in 

 our own country has led me to wonder whether 

 it might not be worth our time to pause for a 

 few moments to consider some phases of its 

 growth. It seems to me if such a considera- 

 tion is pertinent, it is doubly so before an asso- 

 ciation which has done so much within the last 

 few years to foster such development. The 

 distinctively bacteriological societies that we 

 have in America are not old enough to have 

 much more than a kindergarten birthday; 

 nevertheless, they have already been a power- 

 ful means of crystallizing bacteriological effort 

 in this country, and have undoubtedly stimu- 



