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which makes up the sum total of wisdom. Isolated facts 

 may, even, in time prove to be the keystone of the arch of 

 knowledge. Thus, who would have supposed that the early 

 entomologists who studied the life history and differences 

 in the mosquitoes were preparing information of enormous 

 value to mankind in the control of yellow fever and ma- 

 laria? Men have been derided for studying the humble 

 flea, but the facts they discovered are now essential for the 

 prevention and elimination of plague. When MetchnikofI 

 studied the little transparent water-spiders under the 

 microscope, people regarded such an occupation as no 

 occupation at all for a sane man, but out of these observa- 

 tions has arisen our knowledge of phagocytosis and much 

 that we know concerning immunity and the prevention of 

 infections. When Pasteur set himself to study the reason 

 why some wines have a sour taste, the average man could 

 see little practical use in such an inquiry, but Pasteur saw 

 curious germs in the sour wine which he soon showed to be 

 the cause of the abnormal fermentation. It was a bold but 

 logical step to conceive that if these little germs caused 

 disease of wine, similar germs probably caused diseases and 

 fevers in man. The patient and plodding research student 

 who sets before himself the task of discovering the cause 

 or cure for cancer is treading unknown paths and may take 

 a road which will lead to a cure for typhoid fever or tuber- 

 culosis. The investigator who sails the uncharted seas is 

 apt to discover new islands and new harbors, although not 

 always the ones his imagination conceives. Columbus 

 set out to find a short route to the Indies, but discovered a 

 continent instead. Workers in laboratories are truly pio- 

 neers, and useful knowledge concerning the milk problem 

 has resulted from research work often of an academic 

 nature which had no special reference to milk. 



These facts are well recognized by many progressive 

 dairymen who foster scientific research. Thus in Boston a 

 number of milk contractors, producers of certified milk, 



