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1929
41
the hot weather, in the hair, in the secretions of the nose and
throat, from all of which sources it may be introduced into the
water. The presence of these organic matters has the effect of
converting the water into a culture medium, so that any bacteria
introduced, even in small numbers, must soon undergo rapid
multiplication.
The skin is probably the chief source of bacterial contamination,
and here again the presence of increased sweat and dirt in
hot weather certainly involves an increased number of bacteria on
the skin surface, and this in hot weather increases the possibilities
of contamination from this source. Most, if not all of these
organisms are no doubt non-pathogenic, and therefore harmless
from the point of view of causation of disease. But even the
contamination from the skin could be lessened if a more extensive
use was made of the spray bath before entering the water.
Since short hair in women has become the vogue the heads
of the girls are much cleaner than in former days, but unfortunately
the wearing of caps by women is not so universal as it used to be,
and the Committee might consider the compulsory wearing of caps
by all young girls. Caps are worn always by grown-up women.
Mucus from the mouth and nose and saliva contaminate the
water. A good deal of the spitting which occurs in the swimming
pool is unnecessary, is done in ignorance and could be avoided.
The taking in of water into the mouth and spurting it out into the
bath is unnecessary and filthy. Notices are put up against
spitting but they might be more frequent and prominent.
Although there is the possibility that intestinal organisms
may play a part in contamination, this is not so frequent a cause
as that which arises from micturition in the bath. It is well known
that micturition occurs involuntarily with some persons on entering
cold water, and possibly this cannot entirely be avoided, but the
greater part of the contamination from this source could be
prevented if all bathers used the urinals and closets immediately
before entering the swimming pool. Most grown-up persons use
these conveniences but the greatest difficulty arises from the
children who come in classes. They are only allowed a certain
time inside the baths, and the closets on the side of the secondclass
baths are not sufficient in number. There are only two
closets together with the urinal, and this is not sufficient. The
conveniences on the side of the first-class baths are also not very
conveniently situated, or at any rate not conspicuous, and notices
could be posted calling attention to their situation, and the desirability
of always using them before entering the pool.
It must not be inferred from the foregoing that swimming
baths are responsible for the spread of much disease. The danger
of the transmission of disease by polluted water in swimming baths