THE

FORMATION OF POISONS

BY

MICRO-ORGANISMS.

A BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE GERM THEORY OF DISEASE.

P. BLAKISTON, SON & CO.,

No. 1012 WALNUT STREET.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, by

G. V. BLACK, M.D.,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

PRESS OF WM. F. FELL & Co., 1220-24 Sansom Street,

Philadelphia.

M. N. W.

PREFACE.

The historical portion of this volume has been condensed from notes made from time to time in the study of the subject. With the view of making it as short as possible, I have given only those experiments and observations that seemed important to a proper understanding of the subject, avoiding all but the most necessary details; aiming at the same time to preserve all that will be of real advantage to the general student. Many familiar names will be missed, for the reason that many have written, and some of them very well indeed, who have developed no distinctive fact or thought that is of service in the farther progress of the subject. When we come to analyze any such subject, most men are surprised to find how few have been instrumental in the development of the real basic facts on which our knowledge of it rests. Therefore, if we can properly estimate the import of the matter presented, the history of the development of any such subject may be briefly written. Whether or not I have determined wisely, the intelligent reader must judge.

The second part was written because I had something to say that I thought ought to be said at the present time. The men who have been most instrumental in the development of this subject have given us little else than the experimental facts. These will satisfy the minds of but very few. Most of us appreciate any subject more if we understand why these things are so. It is this why that I have sought to supply. This I leave for intelligent discussion to sift, and separate the good grains from the chaff.

JACKSONVILLE, June 2d, 1884.

G. V. BLACK, M. D., D. D. S.