POTENCY OF BACTERIA

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 36, 6 November 1920, Page 7

POTENCY OF BACTERIA

6 Keconfc iinvestigations are showing njoru and nioi'S the extent to which bacteria are potent in another field than disease. Geologists are realising more fully as they extend their. studies the magnitude of the work done by plants and animals in building up and tearing down parts of the crust of the earth. Even microscopic organisms perform a large part of this work. Pasteur showed not only the deadly power of bacteria in disease and their efficiency in promoting fermentation, but also their influence on the fertility of soils, and their work in expediting rock decay are slill subjects of scientific study Bacteria evidently not only aid in the decomposition of rocks and in _the formation of beds of nhallc and limestone, as lias recently been demonstrated, says the "Scientific American," but arc active agents in the deposition of some beds of iron t're. Engineers have learned that iron-deposit ing bacteria may be troublesome pesls tlirougTi their ability to clog the pipey of city water-supply systems with Jinni. , thick crusts and slimy, rusty nurses composed of millions of individuals. Mr. E. C. Harder, of the United Stales (illogical Survey, has round the s-'-called "iron bacteria" nctively engaged in tin- ■ deposition of compounds of iron, not only Til Ihe surface iron-bearing waters, but in mine waters to depths of several : hundred feet, and has made cultures of-1 yariws iron-depositing bacteria.