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diphtheria bacilli (large numbers), Klebs-Loeffler diphtheria
bacilli (a few), staphylococci, streptococci, torulce, sarcince,
etc.
4. A detailed bacteriological examiniation of a bath brush-head,
in use at Public Baths, was conducted by request of the
Baths Committee. The following germs, actually found,
after cultivation upon nutrient plates, made a museum,
viz.: Proteus Zenkeri, bacillus prodigiosus, proteus vulgaris,
bacillus fluorescens, bacillus liquefaciens, micrococcus,
sarcina, torula, staphylococcus pyogenes aureus, streptococcus,
bacillus coli, bacillus subtilis, various different
moulds, etc. It is satisfactory to be able to report that no
specific pathological germs, such as those of diphtheria,
tuberculosis, typhoid, or enteric, etc., were found. The
germs that were isolated were found to be thriving in a
mixture of dirt, soap, hairs, debris, skin scales, organic
matter, etc., surrounding (and in) the roots of the tufts of
hairs or bristles of the brush, which are fixed into holes in
the wooden framework of the brush-head, by means of wire,
and on the inside of the thin wooden casing which is nailed
on the back of the brush-head, the whole forming
an excellent breeding ground for the germs, which were
(a) liquefying (or putrefactive) bacteria, and (b) non-liquefying
bacteria. It is clear that the ideal brush-head
(sanitary), for public baths especially, should be made of
an impermeable material, so as to be readily cleansible
and capable of efficient disinfection from time to time.
5. Samples of soda water made from (a) Metropolitan Water
Board water, and (b) deep artesian well water from a well
in the grounds of a well known Lambeth manufacturer,
showed the latter to be purer than the former, viz : 35 to
78 colonies of germs (on cultivation) per 1 cc. and 1 to 2
colonies of germs liquefying gelatine, as compared with
112 to 144 colonies per 1 cc. and 8 to 11 colonies of germs
liquefying gelatine in the former, respectively. The deep
artesian well water taken direct from the well was found to
be purer still, viz : less than 10 colonies of germs per 1 cc.
and no colonies of gelatine liquefying germs.
6. A raid was made upon ice-creams, and in several instances,
the bacillus coli (a germ associated with sewage) was
isolated therefrom; whilst a raid was also made upon
tinned, canned, and otherwise preserved foods throughout