Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-01-15
A CAREFUL ANALYSIS
Of the River Water Furnished by the Water and
 Light Go.
PINE BLUFF, ARK, Jan. 13, 1894.

i-N'1 To Water Consumers.
 herewith publish the report of Drs. Sanger and Ravold on the analysis of A rkansas River water and that of Pine Bluff cisterns. This water was gathered by Dr. Runyan of Pine Bluff, in jugs sent by Dr. Ravold, and when filled ex- pressed by Dr. Runyan back to Dr. Ray old, and they were not in the hands of the Water Company, or their employees, at any lime Nor did l know the result of the analysis, or have any intimatien of what the result would be until l re- ceived this report. Both Drs. Sanger and Ravold are men of international reputation and are considered among the foremost men i'll their profession i'll chemistry and Dacteioogy Ill the country It therefore gives me great pleasure to be able to refute the unjust criticism of the quality of water furnished by the company of which I am receiver.
 JAMES NJ. GIFFoRD, Receiver of Pine Bluff Water, Gas and Electric Light Company.
 CHEMICAL LABORATORY, ST. LOUIS MEDICAL. COLLEGE,
 ST Lotus, Mo, Dec 21, 1894. Receiver Pine Bluff Water, Gas and Electric Light Go.
 sir submit herewith report on the samples of water received at this Labor atorv November Both, 1894, of which you requested baetiriologieal examina- tion by Dr. Ravold and q chemical ex- animation by us.
 These samples were collected at Pine Bluff November 18th, and were from the following sources:
 Nc. S7, Arkansas river.
 No. SS. cistern of Dr. Hyslop.
 No o0 cicfarn of Mrs Fox
 enclose results of the chemical analy- sis which include the ordinary bactiro- logical examination. Further and more definite work by Dr. Ravold is given in his letter to us, which I also enclose The combined chemical and bactirio- logical examination enabled us to draw very definite conclusions as to the con- ditions of all the samples.
 The river water is in good condition = for river water, and makes better showing than does the Mississippi at St. Louis. There seems to be no evidence ol patheglnic bactiria in It.
 Tn regarl to the cistern of Dr. Hyslop, I should say that while there is no evidence of contamination by sewerage or decaying matter, and while the water could be safely used for drinking, yet 1t is not as clear as a cistern should be. recommend that it be thoroughly cleaned.
 The cistern Of Mrs Fox shows chemi- cal evidence of impurity, and this is confirmed by the bactiriologcal eXamina- tion. It may be that there is slight in- filtration of sewerage, but at all events there is contamination by decaylng animal matter and the use of the water for drinking should be at once stopped. Respectfully,
 CHARLES R. SANGER, A. M. Ph. D. Professor of Chemistry, Washington University
 CHEMICAL LABORATORY, ST. LOUIS MEDICAL COLLEGE, MEDICAL DEPART MENT, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY,
 Sr Lotus, Mo, December 20, 1894 Professor Charles lt. Sanger
 Dear Professor-T The meteorological ex- animation of the three samples of water received from Pine Bluff, Ark, Novem- Der 3O 1894, shows the following re. suits: The water was received in sealed bottles one from the Arkansas river at Pine Bluff, one from cistern of Dr Hvslop at Pine Bluff, and one from eastern of Mrs. Fox at Pine Bluff, al taken November 18th, 1884,
 I. 0.5 co of each of these samples was inoculated into gelatine and plated, ant plates were counted DeCeHlUeI Au.
 River water showed 596 colonies o bacteria to lcc' actual count.
 Cistern (Hyslop) showed l2S00 colo nies of bactera to Ice. estimated.
 Cistern (Fox Showed a number whicl was uncountable owing to rapid liquiti cation. =, II. Pystone boulllon inoculated witt each sample and grown in the incubato at 37 degree c. for several days, thel infected into Guinea pigs resulted a follows
 River water, no effect.
 Cistern (Hyslop), no effect.
 Cistern (Fox), Pig sick for severa days, slowly improved.
 il. Einhorns saceharometer bulb containing sugar peptone bouillon in oculated with each sample and grown | incubator for five days:
 River water and water from cistern ( Dr. Hyslop showed no fermentation Samples from Mrs Fox's cistern shove fermentation, with production of 40 pc cent. of gas. Growth in the bulb wa inoculated into agar agar and platet resulting in the finding of the bacilu cole communis, bacillus that IS th normal inhabitant of the intestines man, cattle, horses, dogs and hogs.
 Sincerely,
 AMAND RAyoLn,
 Instructor in bacteriology, St. Lou 1r.x<1; ;<,ols | lapu