Science.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 412, 7 April 1904, Page 7

Science.

MICROBES

isIMES) mjiy be either animal or vegeaEJC table in substance, bat so far as we know at present the animal ones are few in number. Probably the two bestknown animal microbes are the one which causes malaria, and that which gives rise to the disease known as dysentery- The vegetable microbes belong chiefly to a class of fungi, and they are very numerous. Collectively they are often spoken of as bacteria, but we need not trouble beyond identifying the term when we come across it in the newspapers All the vegetable microbes (bacteria) are peculiar-looking little fellows, some being long and slender, while others are short and fat.

Each variety has its own family name, to which a nickname is frequently attached, in order to desctibe some special characteristic. ; Those, for instance, which I have referred to as long and slender bear the family name jo?,. bacilli, and their nickname is 'rod-shaped,' bo that they are generally spoken of as the ' rodshaped bacilli.' HOW MICBOBES WOBK.

They are a most energetic family, and they work in the production of such things as tuberculosis (consumption), diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), ■ and leprosy. There is another large family forming a part of this strange race which one might fancy, were accustomed to good living, for instead of being long and Blender lite the bacilli, they are more ox

A distinctive and picturesque ceilingpaper has been devised by a provincial mayor. To him the ingenious idea Scoured of papering the ceiling with the cheques which had been returned to him, after being oashed, from his bank. In one room alone there are probably 2,000 of these, and the owner may look up at any moment and reflect on an actual turnover of perhaps £50,000 represented oa bis ceiling.