1892. ] Current Literature. 195 
CURRENT LITERATURE. 
A text-book of bacteriology. 
AN EXCELLENT addition to the list of hand books covering the sub- 
ject of bacteriology, available to the English speaking student, has re- 
cently been published by an American firm. It is a translation of the 
third edition of the admirable work by Fraenkel,! which has already 
been favorably received by European teachers. The author was for a 
long time associated with Dr. Robert Koch, being in charge of the 
general laboratory of the Hygienic Institute in Berlin. The transla- 
tion has been well performed by Dr. J. H. Linsley, and the publishers 
have put the work into an attractive and seviceable form. 
The larger part of the work is devoted to laboratory methods and 
to the discussion of specific forms of bacteria. After a brief chapter 
Tegarding the biology of bacteria, the methods of manipulation, 
Separation and cultivation of bacteria are treated in a particularly 
clear and serviceable way through nearly one hundred pages. A 
chapter of considerable length is devoted to the relation of bacteria 
‘0 animal diseases, including the questions of susceptibility and im- 
munity. The remainder of the book, except a few pages upon the in- 
vestigation of air, soil and water, and upon yeast and molds, is de- 
Voted to specific kinds of bacteria, largely pathogenic. 
€ work is clearly written, with few or no digressions, and with the 
needs of the student, particularly the medical student, kept constantly 
in View, Everything that would divert the attention of the learner is 
suitted, and so there is no discussion of disputed points, and no cita- 
ton of literature, Another omission, for which a good excuse is not 
— is the total absence of illustrations. This sometimes neces- 
ve rather long and uncertain descriptions of apparatus, of which 
uch clearer idea could be obtained from a cut. 
tn ate is pecially designed to meet the needs of the medical 
ie »and it is not surprising, therefore, to find that the author 
not take up the general treatment of the bacteria from the 
ae a ae purely scientific point of view. ‘Yet it would scarcely 
fulness xf out of place to have given some hints regarding the use- 
acteria in the processes of nature and certainly one could 
di mably hope to find some reference to their role in producing 
of plants. But within the limitations set by the author, the 
on: 
.. 'S Most admirably written, and will prove a serviceable book for 
laboratory and class room. 
1F 
J. et CarL.—Text-book of bacteriology; third edition. Trans. 
insley. pp. 376, roy. 8vo. New York, Wm. Wood & Co.: 1891. 
