Protozoology, Vol. 1 of 2: A Manual for Medical Men, Veterinarians and Zoologists (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Protozoology, Vol. 1 of 2: A Manual for Medical Men, Veterinarians and Zoologists

The subject of Protozoology has, in recent years, shown a tendency to become divided into two sections. In the one the student's attention is directed chiefly to the study of free-living Protozoa, in the other to parasitic forms, more especially those which give rise to disease in man and domestic animals. Such a division, if it becomes absolute, cannot lead to a clear understanding of the group as a whole, for it is evident that without some knowledge of free-living Protozoa, from which they have been undoubtedly evolved, a wrong conception of parasitic forms will be obtained. As in other branches of science, specialization appears to be inevitable if any advance is to be made, but however specialized a student becomes, it is his duty to keep himself informed of any progress made outside his particular field. Anyone who wishes to make an intel ligent study of parasitic Protozoa must be acquainted with the funda mental principles of general Protozoology, and, indeed, with those of general Zoology, Physiology, and even other sciences. This is merely another way of stating the well-recognized fact that all sciences are inter dependent. On this account the student of the Protozoa which are pathogenic to man and domestic animals should have a sound knowledge of other parasitic Protozoa, and at least a good working knowledge of non-parasitic forms as well. Conversely, those who study free-living Protozoa should have a clear conception of the parasitic forms, for the extensive investigations of recent years have contributed so much to our knowledge that in many respects they are better known than their free living relations, particularly as regards the completeness of their life histories and the probable course of their evolution.

In this manual the writer has attempted to present the subject of Protozoology in such a light that it will be of use to the zoologist who wishes to obtain information regarding the general principles of the subject and detailed knowledge of parasitic forms, and to medical men and veterinarians who are chiefly concerned with those Protozoa with which they have professionally to deal.

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