THE BIOLOGY OF DAILY LIFE. 89 



the microbes there is no attempt to identifying the 

 individual, only the species. The <c same micro- 

 organism" means the same class, sort, or species of 



& i 

 micro-organism. 



What is the chief method employed by microbe 

 theorists for identifying their breeds ? They identify 

 them much as sheep are distinguished, viz., by being 

 stained by colours, which are understood by their 

 keepers, only with this tremendous difference, that 

 the micro-organisms are chiefly distinguished by the 

 different way in which they submit to the process of 

 being stained, with tar or aniline dyes. 



At page 6 of Micro-organisms and Disease, we read : 



" Micro-organisms have a great affinity for 

 certain dyes, and therefore these are used with 

 great success to demonstrate their presence, 

 and to differentiate in many instances morpho- 

 logical details which, in the unstained condition, 

 are not discernible." 



A most perilous proceeding, full of pitfalls and 

 possible errors, when used for the first investigation of 

 new truths, although every microscopist admits the 

 beauty and value of prepared and stained specimens, 

 for demonstrating facts which have been already learned, 

 by a more simple and direct mode of interrogating 

 Nature. 



Let us view this process through a mental microscope. 

 Take it as being applied to larger organisms. Re- 

 member we must assume that these micro-organisms 

 are living creatures, they would not be organisms 

 otherwise. Remember also that, though from a proto- 

 plasmic point of view " it is a mere matter of con- 



