The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-09-26

that the bacterial codht may b. relied
on ~ accurate.) Organisms closely re-
sembling, but not identical with bacillus
coli (the intestinal bacilus) We're found
in G.. e. OF the wat@ These may be
distinct organisms or degenerate form
OF b. coli itself
Altogether, this water can not be rec
Ommended as perfectly safe one neither,
on the other hand, would this analysis
alone positively condemn it, So much
depends upon local conditions, rs throw
ing light on the possibility OF dangerous
pollution occurring at this time, that "A
more positive opinion can not be- given
without thorough sanitary study con
Quoted on the spot I'm the absence OF
this last, my advice would be- 10 regard
this spring as unfit for drinking pur-
poses.
boswell Field.-This sample is from
the regular public water supply ot Fred
ericksburg. 1t il OF decidedly better san
itary quality than the spring water
Most of the constituents which show ny
higher than the spring water would
naturally be higher in n river water
than i'm "A spring water. Thealbuminold
ammonia is rather high, but not unduly
so Tor surface water. The low chic
rine il evidence OF the absence OF anycon
siderable amount OF past contamination
The bacterial count * excellent Tor Il sur
face water. while the absence OF Is. coll
even in 10 C. C.. Oi the water, shows tht
absence OF recent fecal pollution In
high color OF this water is apparently
due. az / have frequently found IN the
wnters OF this section. to the minute
amount of clay which remains in a con
dtion OF collOidal suspension after the
larger amount oi clay has subsidized. "
this is a slow process. the condition 81
this sample shows that it has beer
stored considerable length Of time
either in the reservoir, or, a. seems
probable from your description OF the
special conditions of distribution in Dos
well Field. in the pipes themselves. ThlS
storage. contrary 10 popular belief
would be- a decided safeguard. ! regard
this water. with the storage 10 which il
has evidently been subjected, a. being
| far less liable 10 carry typhoid injection
/ than If this safety factor We're absent
Even ii the public supply OF Fredericks
burg should becomeinlected with typhoid
bacilli. it il likely that such sections %
the city AZ that from which this sample
was taken would suffer less than thos'
where the Heavier consumption made q
| shorter interval OF storage than here
| For this reason, together with the lac
| that you do not report general prevail
ence Of typhoid in fredericksburg ! re-
gard il a. practically certain that TIM
water may be- entirely eliminated as
possible cause OF the typhoid which ha'
| been prevalent in boswell Field.
The fact OF the pipe from which TIM
sample was collected terminating IN 4
dead end may AT times cause a consider
able amount of debris 10 be present II
/ the water and possibly even be respon
| sible for the presence OF actual deeOmpo
sition. as evidenced by foul odOr 10 thu
water. Even this. however, while d
might be- decidedly disagreeable, cOulC
not be- regarded as actually dangeroui
| from "a sanitary standpoint. The great
est danger under such circumstance
would be- that the people, mlsled by
an apparent menace. might under sucl
circumstance resort TO some other source
/ oi supply for their drinking water, thus
getting a water which, while Of mOr
| satisfactory appearance, might be ac
tuallv dangerous. f. c. Levy,
Sanitary Expert
Published by order OF the City Council
W. l.. Watson,
+. W. Mills.
n. Dannehl.
Health Committee.