The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-18
ID TEST THE MILK SUPPLY THOROUGHLY All Apparatus Here Except the
 Large Microscope
METHOD OF INSPECTION
Assistant Meat and MIX Inspector Duncan Explains How His Work Is to Be Done--Much Tech
 nlcal Information.

With the installation of the large microscope which has been ordered for bureau milk consumed by the people will be given more thorough test. With the exception of the microscope, all the other apparatus has arrived. The small glass plates and gelatin came Saturday. The numerous little glass receptacles and other things were purchased some time ago.
 Ellis M. Duncan, the assistant milk and meat inspector, explained the method for determining the number of germs in one cubic cenrimeter of milk. One cubic centimeter is equal to twenty-five drops Take one drop of this milk and put 1t Into one cubic centimeter of sterlized water. or twenty-five drops," said MT. Duncan, at the same time making the experiment for the benefit of those pres ent. We will now take one drop of this diluted milk and make a plate culture of gelatin media. This task completed we are now ready for cultivating the germs to determine the number"
 Mir. Duncan then opened the door of little heating apparatus and explained that it would require twentyfour hours in the proper temperature to get the cor rect germ growth His demonstration ended here and the rest of the experiment leading up to the microscopic examina- ton was explained by pointing out the use of different chemicals and other things required in the laboratory. Suppose at the end of twenty-four hours" said MT Duncan, you count the number or colonies present in the plate culture ana find the same to be 450 from the drop Of diluted milk used, then, 450x25, total num- Der of drops of diluted milk, equals il, ,250 x4, total number of drops In one cubic centimeter of original milk under con- alteration, equals 2S1,250 colonies, or the total number of germs present in one cubic centimeter of the original milk.
 Tn the above counts the exact mum Der of drops are to be determined in each case In order to make a correct analy- sis.
 One Original Germ.
 Each colony represents one original germ as obtained from the milk, while at the time the colonies are counted, each colony may contain several million germs, as the propagation and reproductive ca paclties of bacteria are very great.
 'In making a bacteriological analysis of milk or water, extreme care must be observed In the manipulation to prevent contamination from surrounding condi- tons, and the culture media and the ap- paratus used must be thoroughly strei- lized in order that accuracy in results obtained may be had.
 ..When 1t is desired to make quail tative bacteriological analysis of milk or water, that Is to ascertain the different kinds of germs that may be present, with their peculiarities, 1t Is first necessary to make the plate cultures as in the case of determining the number of germs in a given quantity of milk, by this method the different germs can be isolated into pure cultures, that Is cultures contain ing only one kind of germ This Is done by picking out the different colonies from the plate culture by means of small sterilized platinum wire, then the differ ent kinds of tubes of culture media are inoculated in this way from the different colonies of germs.
 Proper Classification.
 gro properly classify a given germ that you may have under consideration, 1t may be necessary to test its action through a various number of processes, as to the proper kind of culture media is the most favorable to It's growth, the action or such germ on the different kinds or cui- ture media, its peculiarity In staining Tn preparing mount to be observed under the microscope, its morphology, that is its form and structure its mobility or non mobility, the most favorable tenn perature to its growth, It's aerobic or anaerobic pecularities, that is those germs to the success of their growth exygeny Is essential while in the case of the anaerobic free oxygen Is detri- mental to their growth Temperature plays an important role In the biological functions of the different organisms. The extremes of temperature between which the majority of bacteria are known 10 grow range from 5.5 degrees to 4S degrees, 3S degrees being the most favorable. though it is said that certain species may exist that may develop at as high as 1o degrees. and others as low as degree.
 Germs vary great deal in their pow CT to withstand heat and chemicals that tend to destroy them.
 ''Of the germs known to bacterloiogy that have the greatest capacity to with stand destructive agencies, bacillus an- thracis. possibly stands at the head or the list. Anthrax Is germ disease that Is destructive to the bovine animals.
 ''The reason 1t is necessary to dilute the milk that you wish to analyze with distilled sterilized water Is due to the fact that sometimes the milk Is so great ly contaminated with bacteria that If whole drop of the original milk be used in making the plate culture such very great number of colonies would be pro- duced that 1t would be almost impossi- ble to properly count them.
 Culture Media.
 .con,a of the principal culture media