This article discusses the cause of bacterial damage to textiles and the parasites responsible, at the same time indicating the methods of applying finishes to wool which have a bactericidal effect or at least stop their growth. Reference is also made to finishing methods which lower the resistance of wool to bacterial attack. Besides mentioning familiar methods, the author also describes the results of trials of several new processes which he has worked out, whereby he was guided by a more extensive clarification of the problem of the relations between textiles and bacteria, both of a saprophytic as well as of a pathogenic nature.