BACTERIA IN PROCESS OF NATURE. 



the oxygen thrown off by trees and plants and 

 to a certain extent by the food obtained from 

 the vegetable world ; therefore, the work of the 

 saprophytes is necessary to the existence of all 

 forms of life. 



With regard to the work of saprophytes as Bacteria in 

 our friends in the processes of Nature, let us Natural 

 look a little farther into this phase as explained 

 to us by scientists. Let us see why it is that 

 they play so important a part in these processes, 

 and how it is that they are so completely inter- . 

 woven with the vital powers of nature, that life 

 in all its forms would vanish from the earth 

 should their activities cease. 



When as children we explored the woods and 

 perched ourselves upon fallen tree trunks and an^^Plaits/*^^ 

 saw them dropping into decay, how many of us 

 now studying bacteria in regard to their con- 

 nection with our work as nurses ever associated 

 the process of decay with the activities of 

 germs? Today we are taught that bacteria 

 play an important part in this process after the 

 hard, woody substance of the tree has been 

 softened and prepared for their work ,by 

 moulds. Then, after the tree has been attacked 

 by bacteria, it drops to pieces as a yellowish 

 brown deposit, to mix with dead leaves and 

 sink into the soil as a fertilizer to promote the 

 growth of healthy plants and trees that inhabit 

 the forest. 



33 



