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82
There is no doubt that from the comparative roughness of the surface
and the porous and uneven nature of the interstices between the glazed
bricks lining the bath, numerous germs are harboured and the growth of
these germs helps to render the bath water impure. The ordinary
scrubbing and cleansing, however well applied, cannot be entirely successful
in the dislodgement of the whole of this accumulation of bacteria, which
makes it necessary to resort to some process of sterilization to render
what may be remaining inert.
The temperature of the bath water is usually kept at 72 degrees, and
it must be remembered that for germs taking part in the ordinary processes
of putrefaction the temperature of warm summer weather—68 to 76
degrees—may be taken as the average optimum.
Varying in time according to the number of bathers, particularly in
summer, within twenty-four hours changes—without doubt due to the
rapid growth of bacteria—are noticed in the water of a swimming bath.*
It assumes a darkish colour, and if left in the bath grows still darker;
at the bottom of the bath it becomes somewhat slimy and there is a
feeling of stickiness about the body after bathing.
When the used water is drawn off this slime leaves the bottom of the
bath in a slippery condition and consequently difficult to stand upon when
scrubbing and cleansing is in progress; the slime also emits an offensive
odour which has a tendency to produce nausea and sore throat.
Slime with grease is also deposited on the tiles at the water level;
this should be removed by washing with strong hot soda water when the
bath is emptied.
Mr. Councillor Barge, the then Chairman of the Baths and Washhouses
Committee, who had closely followed the experiments daily,
considered the baths should be emptied and re-filled with fresh water as
usual. He was of opinion the object of the scheme should be not so much
to save water, as to give the bathers a pure bath and prevent the spread
of disease, by sterilising the water and interior surfaces of the bath, and
oxidising, as far as possible, the organic substances that must
private warm bath, and for a like sum men and women can obtain a private cold bath.
For the sum of two pennies men and women can have a private warm bath. In the
above cases one towel is provided, bathers can bring their own soap or purchase a piece
at the bath for the sum of a half-penny. The use of a second towel can be obtained for
one half-penny, or a rough Turkish towel for one penny.
* In fact, even in hot weather, after a few hours, changes will be noticed in
swimming bath water without any bathers polluting it. Without doubt these changes
are due to the water remaining still in a covered building and in a receptacle which has
not been sterilised.