The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-08

Surgeon J. ]. Kinyoun Of tho marine hos
pital service. He says, among other things:
1t requires "A long Time for bacteria 20 be
affected by aerafiou. They viii diminish
under lis Influence il il is persistent. bur
not otherwise. The inference drawn from
the oxidation of the bacterial and chemi-
cal product docs moi apply TO the bacteria.
The number Of bacteria IN the Niagara
river is but slightly diminished in the
plunge over the falls and subsequent AGRA
ton in the stream below Perhaps The
stream IS not long enough to test this thor
oughfy, bui / am of tne opinion that there
are no rivers in this country of sufficient
length 10 accomplish this purpose. There
is no doubt that sedimentation accom-
plishes considerable in diminishing the
number Of bacteria. SedimentatiOn of bac-
terra Is quite another thing from the de-
position of suspended matter stream
snay free itself from turbidity and yet con-
tain a large number of bacteria. Sedimen-
tation Of bacteria may, and often does Oc-
cur as the result of time and the distance
the water is carried. The slower the vol
ume of water is moved the more rapid will
be the deposition"
Again Dr.. Kinyoun says; There Is
wide difference of opinion concerning the
viabiity of bacteria in water Some claim
that they win not develop in water unless
u is very rich in nutrient material and
then only under the most favorable condi-
tons; while there are others who cite in
stances where the bacteria material in
Creascs under the ordinary conditions, es-
pecially those OF the Intestinal group. II
is also "a wen recognized fact that tenn
peratlrc plays and important role in the
development of bacteria. and we would
expect "A large increase in their number
during the summer and fall. Practically
this does not occur. Water containing
sewage viii preserve bacteria for con
siderable length Of time, especially u the
tempe nature is low. The bac era in water
may be diminished by the germicidal ac-
ton OF the sums rays especially II The
water is clear and sull. Yet under the most
favorable conditions, thc sunlight affects
only he under stratum, and has scarcely
any effect on those a foot or so below The
surface. There is little or no effect il the
water is turbid or moving rapidly"
In another part of his report he says: III
the river would purify itself by aeraton
and sedimentation 1t would become less
and 3ess as we approach Washington. On
the contrary. DIT. Sprague reports that the
samples of water taken "A various p aces
in the Potomac basin do not show dimn-
utiou of the colon group, but a relative in
crease as we approach Washington This
tact alone would appear to be sufficient 10
demonstrate the fallacy Of the self-purih-
cation of a stream"
The case of Hamburg is referred to,
where a similar phenomenon was observed
until il was finally determined TO filter the
water; after which the health Of the city
greatly improved. Lawrence, Mass, and
two other Eastern cities have installed FL
ter plants to purify the river supply.
DR. f. f. Ewell, assistant superintendent
OF the chemical division of the department
of agriculture. is inclined to think there
are no hard and fast rules as 10 the ability
of "a stream to purify itself. He says there
are so many differences in temperature
rate of flow and the character and guam
tity of the CONCENTRATIONS that every case
has to be determined for itself by actual
experiment.
Dr. oscar Loew of the division of vegeta-
bic pathology leans to the theory of Pet
tenkoefer and says that If the flow is
long enough and other conditions are Ga p
vorable the stream will purify itself. He
says il is impossible for the bacteria, even
the most hardy kind to live on indefinitely
in a running stream
When the case comes into court, it wiz
probably be a simple matter TO get very
wise men TO testify on both sides of the
controversy.