New-York tribune., 1908-12-28
TYPHOID GERM TEST
TO 4NALYZE CITY WATER.
Nesr Equipment VII Make More
accurate Reports Possible.

n & shor- time the meteorological laboratory
of the Department Of Water Supply, Gas and
Electricity viii have an equipment which VIII
enable Dr.. u. .. Jackson, or his assistant
Thomas Melia. to make tests Of the city water
every two days for typhoid germs. The analysis
Of the city water has hitherto been chemical
which would show contamination. but not the
nature Of it After protracted experimentation
Or Jackson and Mr. Melia have perfected a
method OF separating injurious germs from the
water for the first time Ia practical way IN
She history of meteorological research The
method has been explained in a long paper
which VIII soon be published. DR.. jackson re-
CARDS this as Of as much Importance. but in
different way, as his discovery Of the ny as
eangerous disease carrier.
Dr. Jackson has made many tests OF his new
method OF separation. especially using Hudson
River water He found in every analysis OF
water from that much polluted stream typhoid
germs in plenty. OF course, the water is not
used for drinking purposes, but oysters have
been fattened in IL, and were until a year ago.
when the Department Of Health put a stop to it
Dr. Jackson explained his new method yester-
day.
Other scientists have isolated the typhoid
germ, but the process has been laborious and
SLOW. Dr Jackson and his assistant worked on
the theory that as the cases Of walking typhoid
showed the presence of millions Of the germs in
tbs gall bladder bile would be the best medium
for isolation Accordingly. one part of water
70 four parts Of Iactose bile was put in a bot
tie and the result, after incubation and the use
IF new germ food, was an easy Isolation
The typhoid baciln are among the most rassid
movers in the tribe of disease germs, and IS
they are also quick breeders and of marked
Characteristic they were isolated without diff
fcuity The bile was sterized that the
fnnocuous germ would not he much in evil
dence. then after the bile and water had been
incubating for \ few days the whole was trans
ferred TO germ food discovered by DR. w
Hesse Of Dresden. Without this medium, Dr.
Jackson said. the isolation would not be posi-
bic The same results were obtained in sepa-
rating the bacilli Of typhoid in milk It Is ex-
pected that tests of milk viii ia future be made
in TIE same way The intestinal germs, so in
furious II infants and children in the summer
months. can also be separated
In his labors to get exact data OF all that had
been accomplished in the efforts TO isolate germs
of disease DR.. Jackson consulted the works of
forty-three eminent bacteriologists. including
Dr. ". H. Parks, Of the meteorological bureau
Of the Health Department. whose researches
have been extensive. The method finally adopt
ed by Dr. Jackson and Mr.. Melia was the use
Of bile in the way described. and DR.. Jackson
says that in this way there was no liability of
missing the typhoid bacillus, even when present
in very small numbers.
Or. Jackson said that the saline quality of the
Hudson River water does not affect the germs
TO z marked degree In the waters Of the two
rivers that wash the City's piers are deposited
great colonies Of the typhoid and Intestinal
germs which are carried by the flies into the
homes Of those living near the waterfront
Every test made Of the water resulted in bring
ing out swarms Of the typhoid germ
nd n a
said. would mean a great added security TO all
cities wherever employed 1t would insure prac-
tically Immediate detection Of the typhoid
bacillus and thus would make possible im1ne-
ciate efforts check infection An order 10
boil ali water would be issued at once. and then
the search for the source Of contamination
would be made. There are eighty-fve places IN
this city and in the watershed from which sam
rles OF water are sent to the department, cover
ing every source of the supply and the principal
eections Of the city where water is drawn. In
the examination Of these samples assurance is
given that the department viii know within two
DAYS whether the water is not as pure as II
should be