This book "is designed as an elementary text for the student who plans to take but one or two courses in microbiology" and "is intended to serve as a basis for an understanding of the part played by micro-organisms in everyday life." In attempting to reach his objective the author, a professor of bacteriology, has prepared this second edition of an inexpensive book, the first edition of which was reprinted twice since 1942. This second edition is revised; much has been rewritten, and six new chapters and new illustrations have been added.
Approximately one third of the book deals in a conventional manner with bacterial morphology, physiology and antibiotics, defense against infection and epidemiology. The second third deals with infectious diseases much as would be expected in a textbook of medicine or preventive medicine, with little emphasis on bacteriology or virology. A few omissions, such as discussions of viral hepatitis,