This book is written by twenty-two German medical scientists who are especially well qualified for their respective tasks by reason of training and function. The main part is devoted to the control and treatment of the individual infectious diseases, which include bacterial, spirochetal and protozoan infections as well as the virus diseases, diseases of unknown etiology, fungous diseases and the diseases caused by worms. There are also much shorter parts dealing with governmental regulations for communicable diseases, the general principles of infectious pathogenesis and immunity, the production and use of antiserums and vaccines, serum disease, the examination of infectious materials, and the rôle of disinfection and sterilization. The purpose of the book is to tell physicians in private as well as official positions what they should know about communicable diseases, their causes, modes of spreading, diagnosis, prevention and treatment in order to fulfil adequately their responsibilities in such matters.