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105
One sample of water was labelled ''From 40 yards above water-cress
beds." This sample was extremely turbid.
For the sake of simple designation we will refer to the Effluent as
"Sample No. 1;" to the first sample of water as "Sample No. 2," and to
the second sample of water (the one near the water-cress beds) as "Sample
No, 3."
Analysis of Sample No. 1:—
(а) This Sample contained about 120,000 microbes per 1 cubic centimetre.
(б) It contained at least 5,000 bacillus coli communis, but less than
10,000 per 1 cubic centimetre.
(l) It contained at least 50, but less than 100, spores of bacillus
enteritidis sporogenes per 1 cubic centimetre.
As an effluent I consider this a good deal inferior in quality to what
would be considered as passable; 1,000 bacillus coli per 1 cubic centimetre,
should be the extreme number; 10 spores or less per 1 cubic centimetre should
be the maximum number of spores in a passable effluent.
Sample No. 2:—
(a) This sample contained about 450 microbes per 1 cubic centimetre.
(b) It contained more than 10, but less than 20 bacillus coli communis
per 1 cubic centimetre.
(c) It contained the spores of bacillus enteritidis sporogenes in 10 cubic
centimetres, but not in 3 cubic centimetres.
Sample No. 3:—
(a) This sample contained about 28,800 microbes per 1 cubic centimetre.
(b) It contained at least 100 bacillus coli communis per 1 cubic
metre.
(c) It contained the spores of bacillus enteritidis sporogenes in 1 cubic
centimetre.
From this analysis it follows that there is a remarkable and striking
difference between the two samples of water, the one 100 yards above the
intake of the effluent of the sewage farm is of the character of surface
waters such as one constantly meets everywhere, but not directly polluted.
The other sample, viz., 40 yards above the water-cress beds, is strongly
polluted with sewage. The number of bacteria present (28,800 per 1 cubic
centimetre), the large number of bacillus coli communis (at least 100 per cubic
centimetre), and spores of bacillus enteritidis in every 1 cubic centimetre, prove
that such pollution must have taken place.
(Signed) E. Klein.
(Copy) St. Bartholomew's Hospital, E.C.
May 1st, 1903.
To the Medical Officer of Health.
Sir—i received in a sterile bottle, well tied and secured, a sample of
water-cress, brought by your Inspector.
About 150 cubic centimetres of sterile distilled water were added to the
total amount of water-cress, and after shaking the mixture for a few
minutes, the water was poured off into a sterile flask. The fluid thus poured
off was very turbid, and was used for cultivation experiments. It ought to
be stated that the above bottle containing the water-cress—in fact, quite
filled by it—measured about 30 ounces, or 850 cubic centimetres.