PEEFACE TO THE FIRST FRENCPI EDITION. 



So important a place does Microbiology now occupy in the medical curriculum 

 that not only are laboratories fully equipped for research and teaching to be 

 found in all medical Schools, but the Student on leaving his School should 

 have at least sufficient knowledge of the subject to carry out for himself 

 the more simple investigations, such, for instance, as the recognition of the 

 tubercle bacillus and the detection of the diphtheria bacillus. 



The present work has been designed purely as a laboratory guide, the one 

 object constantly in view in its preparation having been to make it a true 

 vade mecum a book which would both direct the beginner step by step and, 

 at the same time, afford to the more skilled worker such assistance as would 

 enable him to pursue his researches in a profitable direction. 



My experience as a Teacher of Microbiology and as a Director of labora- 

 tories has I venture to think given me the qualifications necessary for the 

 task in hand. 



All matters of theory and all references to original sources have been 

 studiously avoided since adequate information upon these matters is forth- 

 coming in the many excellent Text books of Bacteriology. 



In the first Part of the book the methods applicable to micro-organisms in 

 general are detailed and while in each chapter a number of methods, all of 

 which have been recommended by various authorities, are described, em- 

 phasis is laid upon those with which I have obtained the most satisfactory 

 results and which I feel may confidently be recommended to the beginner. 



The second Part is concerned with a description of the methods most 

 suitable to the various different micro-organisms. The Bacteria are described 

 first and then the parasitic Fungi and Protozoa the importance of which, 

 however considerable it now may be, threatens to occupy an even greater 

 place in the Pathology of the future. 



The third Part which completes the book is devoted to a short account 

 of the methods available for the bacteriological examination of water and air. 



Much care has been bestowed upon the illustrations, and in order that the 

 figures may be of as much use as possible to the Student in interpreting his 

 own results they were drawn and coloured by myself from my own pre- 

 parations and faithfully represent the appearances which should be obtained 

 if the directions in the text are carefully followed. 



