The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-10
Germs Liberated Near Chicago
Active When Reaching Intake
of Local Water Supply.
IMPORTANT FACTS DEVELOPED.
Witness Surprises Attorneys for
Defense When He Discloses
Methods to Prove Theories
Advanced by Scientists.

Doctor Armand Ravold, the bacteriologist,
in his evidence before the Commissioner ap-
pointed by the United States Supreme
Court to take testimony in the case OF
Missouri against Illinois and the Sanitary
District of Chicago, sitting at the Southern
Hotel yesterday, surprised the attorneys for
the defense by his testimony, which. it is
believed, will have great weight in deciding
the case.
His testimony brought to light knowledge
Of q series Of extensive meteorological ex-
periments. which were secretly carried on.
These experiments disclosed that the typhoid
bacilli could live in a Journey through the
Illinois River, the Drainage Canal and Mis-
sissippi River and still be alive when reach
ing the intake of the water supply for St
Louis.
The experiments were among the most
important ever accomplished in the science
of bacteriology. By actual practice. DEM
constructions were made showing theories ad-
vanced by scientists all over the world.
Numerous interesting and important facts
were developed while the experiments were
being performed.
A notable incident in the experiments was
that they were carried on with the utmost
secrecy. Two hundred barrels containing
bacilli were dumped into the Drainage
Canal almost under the eyes Of police sta
toned to prevent anything Of that kind.
The results looked for were obtained and
witnessed by Doctor Ravold and his as
sistants.
DOCTOR RAvoLD'S THEORY.
The theory was held by Doctor Ravold
and other local psychologists that typhoid
germs entering the waters Of the Missis-
sippi River from Chicago reached here
alive, and were capable Of injuring the
health of st. Louis citizens.
He set about proving this by means Of
the bacillus prodigiosis. This latter is an
absolutely harmless bacillus, but greatly
resembles the typhoid bacillus in point of
longevity and general conduct under given
conditions
A supply Of the bacillus prodigiosis was
secured from an eminent scientist Of Ger
many by Doctor Ravold. With his supply
ne set about forming tremendous colonies
of the germ. Before commencing his ex-
periments, Doctor Ravold learned that the
bacillus prodigiosis did not inhabit the
waters Of the Mississippi River, the Illinois
River, Lake Michigan or the Drainage Ca
nal
The process OF forming the colonies was
explained in detail in the testimony. The
bacilli were placed in a broth Of beef OK
tract. in which they were nourished and in
creased in Incredible numbers. The broth
was boiled to rid it of any germs. and every
utensil and instrument was sterilized with
the greatest care. The number of bacilli
in the solution when ready is too great to
calculate. There were 1.0O0, O0o.C00 to every
cubic centirneter of the fluid.
BACILLI FOUND IN WATER.
When the solution was prepared one bar
rel of 1t was taken In the St. Louis harbor
boat to a point in the Illinois River just
above Grafton, where it was poured into
the river. Later specimens OF the water
were taken at the Chain Of Rocks and
from hydrauts In the city, and the bacilli
were detected in these specimens.
The next experiment was on much
larger scale. Two hundred barrels of the
bacilli-bearing broth were loaded on two
freight cars and shipped to Lemont, ILL.,,
on the Chicago Drainage Canal.
Under cover of darkness, SO that the
drainage canal police might be escaped, the
200 barrels were poured into the canal, and
the bacilli started on their journey to the
Mississippi River. Then, as Doctor Raw
| old expressed it, his assistants departed
| with haste for St Louis.
Samples of water were taken at points
between Lemont and st. LOUIS. The germs
| were found in the water, as it was in speci-
mems taken at the intake at the Chain of
Rocks. where water for the city is pumped
| from the river: This experiment was made
| in September 1900.
The fact that 200 barrels of bacilli would
leave their trace in the water of the Mis-
| siSsippi River after travelling such a great
distance is thought to be conclusive that
the typhoid bacilli coming out of Chicago
in many thousands Of times the numbers
would affect the water in a greater degree
The attorneys for the plaintiff look upon
| the decision of the Supreme Court in ihe
| matter of granting additional time for TAX
Ing testimony as decided victory for their
| side. The court ruled that both sides could
| have unlimited time, provided all the tes-
timony was taken in time to present 1t to
/! the court by October 9.
| Present at the hearing yesterday were
| Attorney General H. ]. Hamlin of Illinois
W. C. johnson of Decatur and Judge VIII
liam M. Springer, representing the defend
ants; Attorney General Crow and Assist
| ant Attorney General Jeffries Of Mfssour,
and Assistant City Attorney woerner, repre-
senting the plaintiff. Commissioner Frank
l BRIGHT Of We n n