experience of a small world made lifeless, and so brought my attention sharply back to a
problem with which I had long been concerned. I then realized I must write this book.
During the years since then I have received help and encouragement from so many people that
it is not possible to name them all here. Those who have freely shared with me the fruits of
many years’ experience and study represent a wide variety of government agencies in this and
other countries, many universities and research institutions, and many professions. To all of
them I express my deepest thanks for time and thought so generously given.
In addition my special gratitude goes to those who took time to read portions of the manuscript
and to offer comment and criticism based on their own expert knowledge. Although the final
responsibility for the accuracy and validity of the text is mine, I could not have completed the
book without the generous help of these specialists: L. G. Bartholomew, M.D., of the Mayo
Clinic, John J. Biesele of the University of Texas, A. W. A. Brown of the University of Western
Ontario, Morton S. Biskind, M.D., of Westport, Connecticut, C. J. Briejer of the Plant Protection
Service in Holland, Clarence Cottam of the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation, George
Crile, Jr., M.D., of the Cleveland Clinic, Frank Egler of Norfolk, Connecticut, Malcolm M.
Hargraves, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, W. C. Hueper, M.D., of the National Cancer Institute, C. J.
Kerswill of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Olaus Murie of the Wilderness Society, A. D.
Pickett of the Canada Department of Agriculture, Thomas G. Scott of the Illinois Natural History
Survey, Clarence Tarzwell of the Taft Sanitary Engineering Center, and George J. Wallace of
Michigan State University. Every writer of a book based on many diverse facts owes much to
the skill and helpfulness of librarians. I owe such a debt to many, but especially to Ida K.
Johnston of the Department of the Interior Library and to Thelma Robinson of the Library of the
National Institutes of Health.
As my editor, Paul Brooks has given steadfast encouragement over the years and has
cheerfully accommodated his plans to postponements and delays. For this, and for his skilled
editorial judgment, I am everlastingly grateful. I have had capable and devoted assistance in the
enormous task of library research from Dorothy Algire, Jeanne Davis, and Bette Haney Duff.
And I could not possibly have completed the task, under circumstances sometimes difficult,
except for the faithful help of my housekeeper, Ida Sprow.
Finally, I must acknowledge our vast indebtedness to a host of people, many of them
unknown to me personally, who have nevertheless made the writing of this book seem
worthwhile. These are the people who first spoke out against the reckless and irresponsible
poisoning of the world that man shares with all other creatures, and who are even now fighting
the thousands of small battles that in the end will bring victory for sanity and common sense in
our accommodation to the world that surrounds us.
RACHEL CARSON
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