The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-06-03
OCEANS MANY MICROBES,
Fatal Results of Driiiiancy I'm Sea
Life aud Bacterioiogicai Won
ders of the Depths.


At no particular spot has the sea
been found to be free from organ
isms although those isolated and rec
ognized have proved TO be harmless
consisting of active motile rods and
ubrios. cucci being less numerous
As might be expected, the number Of
organisms increases immensely as
the shore is approached. Thus, about
mile from the shore something
Ike 1000 germs per cubic centimeter
hnve been found. and this influence
of the shore extends for four or five
miles. Some hundreds of miles from
land the number diminishcs to coo.
and at greater distances TO 200 or
less, says Science.
OF course. the fact that algal vege-
,ation is richest near the shore. pro.
,iding a highly nourishing hunting
ground for the marine organism, ac-
counts for the myriads usually found
there. Samples of sea water taken
al some depth below the surface
proved TO contain only a few bac-
terra per cubic centimeter. Thus at
half n mile below the surface only
from eight to twelve bacteria were
present. There Is little doubt that
even should pathogenic organisms
gain access to the sea, as must be the
case where sewers discharge raw
sewage into Il. their activity must
sooner or later be destroyed.
The sea Is remarkable from a bac-
THEOLOGICAL point of view In con-
tanning phosphorescent bacteria, and
u is probable that some Of these are
disease producing, so far. at any
rate, as regards certain aquatic ami
mails. Thus. n bacterlum has been
successfully cultivated from the body
Of the luminous taiitrus which i
both pathogenic and luminous. This
bacterium invades the abdominal
cavity of this aquatic animal. and all
its organs with fatal issue. During
the presence Of the disease the VIC
tim shines with a green light, which
Is said 20 be visible nearly a dozen
yards away aud which persists for
some hours after the demise OF the
animal. II is not improbable that
the luminosity Of other marine amt
mails may be due 20 the invasion Of
this light and disease-producing or
ganism.
The very beautiful phenomenon of
the phosphorescence Of the sea 4
caused by the photobacteria In part
as well as by o variety of low forms
of animal life. The eerie light Is In
no way connected with the element
phosphorous, as Is commonly sup.
posed. The cause Of the phenomenon
is respiratory exchange or oxidation,
an aerobic function. Sea phosphor,
I escence Is never witnessed In perfect
" smooth water. while brilliancy OF
the light when IL is observed Is al.
ways greatest upon the crests Of the
waves or where the water Is in a vic.
lent state of agitation, as in the
wake OF n steamer. Its occurrence.
therefore. Is evidence Of active oxi.
dation. Could. again. the sea he ster-
ilized phosphosescence would cease.
The presence Of highly combustible
matter increases the light. A very
simple experiment proves this II
the flesh Of a fresh haddock or her.
ring be placed at low temperature
(from 40 TO 30 degrees Fahrenhcit)
the liquid will rapidly develop phos-
phorescence, which becomes quite
brilliant on adding little glycerin,
or sugar. or what In other words. Is
respirable material II Is curious
that in marine life disease and death
should be associated with luminous
phenomena.