Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-12

Through inc Kindness OF Ira Pierce,
instructor in chemistry in Delaware
College, a chemical analysis of the
above water was made The following
are the results Of the examination;
pi i1t.o per
lotal solids, Observation-Disclosures. los
Loss on Ignition. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. so
rec ammonia. ...-.........-....,. trace
Organic ammonia. ............... .00l5
Chlorine ........., ................. .O0T
Nltrltes ........i...'.......... free
Nltrates ........-.t.......... $50. decided
The preceding analysis shows
water which, from a purely chemical
standpoint, can be considered Iure.
The small amount of chlorine indicates
no ingress of sewerage or contamination
from kitchen wastes. The very small
amount of albuminoid ammonia loints
to freedom from any serious organic
contamination. From chemical stand.
point, therefore, the water must be
considered pure.
Does the water contain any abnor-
NAL number of bacteria? The number
of bacteria present as determined hy
triplicate tests was found to vary from
to to the cubic centimeter. This is
quite low and certainly indicates no
serious contamination.
Does the water contain any specific
bacillus which would point to u con
tamination with facial matter? 1t
should be stated that water may be
organically pure as judged from a
chemical analysis; that it may also
contain but few bacteria to the cubic
centimeter, and still be dangerous to
health. quart Of distilled water,
containing total of only 10000 bacteria
or 10 to the cubic centimeter would
by ordinary chemical and bacteriologi-
cal examination be considered fault
lessly pure, and yet if out of total
10000 bacteria present only one OF these
belonged to the typhoid species the
water would be highly dangerous. A
water examination is therefore not con-
elusive which considers only the first
two questions and ignores the third
10 isolate the specific typhoid
organism from water is difficult and
uncertain task. 1t is possible, how
ever. to isolate il present the we'll
known organism, bacillus coicom-
NUNS, which is constantly present in
faecal matter. The absence of coli
from the water would exclude con
tamination with faces, and since the
usual mode of transmission of the
typhoid bacillus is by means of faces,
the inference can be made that in the
absence of coli typhoid bacilli are
probably also absent. The presence of
coli would simply point to fecal con
tamination, but not prove that such
ftncal matter came from typhoid
patients, The laboratory studies have
resulted IN isolating variety of the
colon bacillus. Some suspicion is there-
fore thrown upon the water, but we
rFNfh In 1-tt Ga1 -
the water does or ever did contain
typhoid germs A more careful study
of the whole problem will have 10 be
made before any positive condemnation
of the water can be made Certain
additional points will have to be con
sidered.
i. Are the numerous cases of SO.
called typhoid fever, attributable to
the use OF this water cases of true
typhoid? Without questioning the
ability of the physicians in charge of
these cases, it is well-recognized fact
that it is quite impossible to accurately
diagnose typhoid fever in many in
stances without recourse to the Vidal
test. This test would have to be
applied In order to positively deter
mine the presence Of the disease. Much
depends upon this, and we would sug-
gest that physicians cooperate with US
by sending samples Of the blood of all
those i'll of the disease.
70. If the cases in hand are true
typhoid, the question will have to be
solved, j. e., are these cases confined
only to those who drank the water, or
also in part to those who did not,
This will require some careful study in
which the laboratory will be glad to
cooperate.
-. II the cases in hand are not true
typhoid, the suspicion now in tho
minds of many against the water has
little force.
I'VE shall be glad to be of further
service to you in tho investigation.
Very truly yours,
Frank %. Chester,
Director.
A. Robin, NJ. D.,
Bacteriologist aud Pathologist. .
DR.. Lukens, in ORDER to arrive at
definite conclusion, has complied with
the request contained in the letter and
sent five samples of blood of patients to