The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-05

Parts Pc
100, OGO
Total solids. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. H.
Loss on Ignition. n................ O.
FREQ Amnonia Observation-Disclosures. trac
Organic am monia. ............... .0ol
Chlorine 90
Nltrites fre,
Nltratcs. .'...'..' '....'''.'.. "eS'"SN
"rhe preceding analysis shows water
which. from purely chemical standpoint
can be considered pure. The small amount
of chlorine indicates no ingress Of sewer
age or contamination from kitchen
wastes. The very small amount of nj
bumnold ammonia points to freedom
from any serious organic contamination.
From u chemical standpoint therefore,
tho water must be considered pure.
docs the wa er contain any abnormal
number of bacterial The number of bac
terra present as determined by tripllcate
tosts was found to vary from to to the
cubic centimeter. This is quite low and
certainly indicates no serious contaDlina-
tion.
"Doss the water contain any specific
bacillus which would point 10 contamin
alton with faeca! matter. 1t should be
stated that y water may bs organicaliy
pure rs udged from chemical analysis;
that it may also contain but few bacteria
to the cubic centimeter, md still bs dan
gerous to health. A quart OF distilled
water containing total OF only lO0oO bac-
Ierla or 10 to the cubic csntime:er would
by ordinary chemical and archaeological
examination be considered fuultlessly pure
and yet II out of total 10. 100 bacteria pres
ont only ono Of these belonged to tho ty-
phoil species the water would be highly
dangcroua. A water examination is there
fore not conclusive which considers OILY
tho first two questions and Ignores the
third.
40 isolate the specific typhoid organism
from water is difficult aud uncertain task.
l, Is possible, however, to isolate il pres
ent the we'll known organism. bacillus coli
commus, viii ch is constantly present in
raecal matter. The absence OF coli from
tho water would exclude contamination
with farces, nnd sine, the usual mode OF
trans nj ission Of tho typhoid bacillus is by
means of faces, the inference can be made
in he Rb, ence OF cell typhoid bacilli
are probably also absent.
The presence OF coll would simply point
to faecel contamination, but not prove
that such faecei matter came from typhoid
pn'ients. ThB laboratory studies have re-
suited in solating u variety of the colon
bacillus Some suspicion Is therefore
thrown upon the water, that the water
does or even did con ain typhoid germs.
A more careful study OF tho whole prob
Livo condemnation of tho water can be
made. Certain additional p,lnts will
have to bs considered.
/. Arc the numerous cas3s of so.callod
this water cases OF trus typhoid? With.
1ut quo lioniug the ability OF the physi-
,inns in charge of theso cases it Is we'll
fact that it is quito Impossible
10 accurately dinganoso typhoid fever In
many Instances without recourse to the
Vidal test This test would have to be
applied in order to positively determine
,ho pre- ,enc, Of tho disease. Much depends
upon this and we would suggest that the
physicians co. operate with us by sending
of tie blood Of all those III OF tho
disease.
Q II the cases in hand arc true typhoid
The question will have to DO solved, i, O.,
,re those cases confined only to those who
lrnk the water, or also in part t0 those
who did not This will require some care
'ul study in which the laboratory will be
slud to cooperate.
3. If tho cases in hand are not true ty-
,hoid, tho suspicion now In the minds OF
many against the water has little force
1--WE shall bs glad to DO offurther service
O you in tho investigation.
Ivory truly yours,
Frank D. Chester
Director.
"A r bin, NJ. d..
II .l- a