Look around you.
Just look around you.
Have you worked out what we're looking for?
Correct. The answer is...
This programme, "Germs",
is discussed in chapter 622 of your textbook,
which accompanies this series.
Please ensure that you have your copybook at hand,
as you'll be asked to take down notes from the screen
at various points throughout the programme.
Germs.
Germs, germs, germs.
Everywhere, germs.
Dirty...
filthy...
germs.
But where do they come from?
Germs originated in Germany,
before rapidly spreading throughout the rest of the world.
They're basically a form of malevolent bacteria,
with one purpose, to spread germs.
An experiment was carried out
to illustrate just how fast germs can multiply.
First, a solution rich in germs is collected in a Bakerloo bell jar.
We're using some filthy drain water from an overflowing sewer.
Next, several drops of the germ-ridden solution
are removed from the Bakerloo via a pipette.
This pipette is then taken over to our subject.
This is Ashley Swain,
a first-year chemistry student at the University of St Christmas.
Ashley's tongue is cupped,
and the scientist releases a few drops of liquid sewage
into his mouth.
We're going to see how fast the germs can spread
from inside Ashley's mouth to this man,
Ashley's tutor at the faculty, Professor Clifford Miles.
Now we take the professor's temperature.
It's normal. 98.4 degrees.
Note that down in your copybook.
The scientist now instructs Ashley
to cough in the direction of Professor Miles.
The germs have hit their target. The Professor.
Let's see how fast the germs get to work.
Get ready to take down readings from the screen.
Let's see if there's been any change
in the Professor's temperature.
It's gone up a little: 101 degrees.
Two hours have passed,
and the Professor's showing signs of deterioration.
Let's check his temperature again.
It's now 103.8 degrees.
After three hours the Professor is clearly highly feverish.
He's rambling and is obviously in a great deal of discomfort.
And it's hardly surprising, as his temperature is 107.2 degrees.
107.2. Write that down.
As we can see, in just a few hours, Professor Clifford Miles' body
has become completely riddled with the germs from inside Ashley.
Do get well soon, Professor.
You can pick up germs from a variety of sources,
and because they're invisible, they're almost impossible to see.
You can get them from nasty places.
For example, if you haven't washed your hands properly
after wiping your bottom.
Sharing a friend's recorder.
Kissing a dog.
Or a tramp.
In the laboratory, we can cultivate germs
in order to study their behaviour in detail.
An experiment was carried out
to cultivate the Milenius mytoteme germ.
The Milenius mytoteme germ
is unique to one specific branch of moth,
the Brown Maiden, seen here in our gribbin.
The Brown Maiden is normally found in shrubland and thickets,
and feasts on tiny grubs and leaves.
It's a different sort of moth to one you'd enjoy in a sandwich.
They have a rather bitter taste, but are ideal for our experiment.
A lamp is turned on, and the Brown Maiden begins its futile flight.
As it flaps its tiny wings,
they brush up against the inner walls of the gribbin.
The wings are rich in mytoteme,
and soon the walls are coated in the germ.
The moth is now free to stay...
or go.
Next, a cotton bud is used
to scrape off germ samples from inside the gribbin.
These are then wiped in a petri dish containing agar.
The germs are now left to grow overnight.
The next morning, we can examine the results.
Have your pen and paper ready.
A strange reaction has occurred in the middle of the petri
in the middle of the night.
The mytoteme germs have multiplied so fast
that they have bonded to form a plant-like organism.
Note the little leaves at the peak.
And underneath, tiny apples.
This is a fruit-bearing bush.
It's called Lepidopterus arboratus, or moth-apple tree.
Moth apples are smaller than crab apples. Sweeter, too.
But don' t be tempted to eat them because they're highly explosive.
Now hand in your copybook to your teacher or head of class.
In the next programme, we will look at hitchhiking.
(HORN)