# III: B. Diazotans explained — Nordenholt’s Million

> Chapter companion for Nordenholt’s Million by J. J. Connington.

## What happens

The chapter describes the end of a dry spell with heavy thunderstorms, after which the Blight spreads rapidly, devastating crops across Britain and beyond. The narrator reflects on the financial and social repercussions, the initial lack of panic, and the eventual discovery by bacteriologist Johnston of a new denitrifying bacterium, Bacterium diazotans, which destroys nitrogen in the soil, causing plants to wither and soil to degenerate into sand. The narrator speculates that the bacterium originated from the fireball incident in Wotherspoon's laboratory.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Catastrophe

The Blight threatens total crop failure, leading to potential famine and societal collapse.

### Science and Technology

The discovery of B. diazotans by Johnston and the scientific investigation into the Blight's cause.

### Human Nature and Brutality

The initial denial and slow realization of the catastrophe, as well as political exploitation of the crisis.

## Character check-ins

### Johnston

Bacteriologist who discovered B. diazotans in a culture left open to the air.

### Wotherspoon

Mentioned in connection with the laboratory where the narrator believes the fireball created the first B. diazotans.

### Nordenholt

Not directly present, but the chapter sets the stage for his later actions by detailing the global food crisis.

## Key lines

> The cracked ground drank up the moisture; but still more showers fell, until there was mud everywhere.

The dry earth absorbed the rain, but continued downpours turned everything to mud.

_Describes the end of the drought and onset of heavy rain._

> It was hurriedly christened Bacterium diazotans, on account of its denitrifying qualities.

The new bacterium was quickly named Bacterium diazotans because it broke down nitrogen compounds.

_Introduces the scientific name and key property of the organism._

> I feel sure that I saw the birth of the first B. diazotans on that night in Wotherspoon's laboratory, under the action of the fireball;

I am convinced the first B. diazotans was created that night in Wotherspoon's lab by the fireball.

_The narrator's personal theory about the origin of the bacterium._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nordenholt_s_million_se/chapters/iii-b-diazotans
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nordenholt_s_million_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nordenholt_s_million_se/chapters