Fundamental Principles of Bacteriology

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Fundamental Principles of Bacteriology BY A. J. SALLE, B. S., M. S., PH. D. Associate Professor of Bacteriology University of California Los Angeles SECOND EDITION SIXTH IMPRESSION McGRAW-HILL BOOK COMPANY, INC. NEW YORK AND LONDON 1943 To CECELIA DAVEBSO SALLE this book is affectionately dedicated PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION The advancements that have taken place in all phases of bacteriology since this book was first published have made it necessary to prepare a second edition. In order to bring the material up to date, the book has been thoroughly revised and entirely rewritten. To mention the chapters that have been revised would mean the inclusion of the entire book. However, the chapters that show the most significant changes are the following The Morphology of Bacteria The Microscope, including a brief discussion of the newer results and possi bilities with the electron microscope The Effect of Environment upon Bacteria The Nutrition of Bacteria, including a discussion of the various growth factors or vitamins required by organisms The Enzymes of Bacteria the Respiration of Bacteria The Fermentation of Carbo hydrates and Related Compounds Associations of Bacteria, im-biilmo the newer work on bacterial antagonisms Differentiation and Classifica tion of Bacteria Bacteriology of Air Bacteriology of Soil Bacterial and Virus Diseases of Plants and Specific Infections. The first edition contained a considerable amount of chemistry because it is believed that no student can intelligently understand or pursue research in bacteriology without first having had a sound knowl edge of at least inorganic and organic chemistry. This feature of the first edition has been retained and perhaps emphasized to a greater extent in the present revision. Considerably more textbook material has been incorporated in this edition. Because of this fact it was considered advisable to separate the laboratory procedures from the text material otherwise, the book would have been too bulky. The experimental procedures have been incor porated into a laboratory manual to accompany the textbook. The separation of the laboratory material from the textbook will answer the objection of those instructors who prefer to use their own manuals. The author has attempted to give credit for all illustrations and text material used in the book. Any omissions or errors are entirely uninten tional. He wishes to thank his wife and Mitchell Korzenovsky and Harvey C. Upham for their aid in reading and checking the proof, and also those who have offered valuable suggestions during the preparation of this manuscript. Los ANGELES, CALIF., A. J. oALLE. December, 1942. vii PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION This is frankly a plea for the return of the dignity and importance of the preface. Too often the writing of a preface has become a chore, a necessary evil prescribed by custom. But like many practices which have become common through familiarity, the original purpose of the preface has perhaps been obscured by time and by the careless reading habits of the average reader who wishes to get to the meat of the book as quickly as possible. The preface is a vital part of the book and for good reasons. . . . All of us come to a book loaded with prejudices. We are not as impartial as we think we are. Mention a topic or theme and we can be sure to express a certain point of view right or wrong. It is the function of the preface to modify these prejudices by suggesting what presumably are new points of view. Thus, the preface is an exercise in persuasion. It must break down reader resistance 7 it must put the reader in the proper frame of mind to approach the reading of the book. If the preface is written with this idea in mind, the reader will come to the book proper already favorably disposed toward the author. If the author is inclined to evade actualities, he must then be prepared for reader apathy and perhaps neglect JOHN R. WILBUR...