El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-06-07

the algae from the Mesa reservoir. The
afternoon was given wholly to work at
the laboratory. This work included the
implantation of samples secured at the
Mesa in plain gelatin. plain agar ntmus
lactose agar, and in Smith fermentation
tubes containing dextrose broth. and in
counting the colonies Of the implanta-
ton made Monday.
All Of the sites visited Monday were
revisiteds Wednesday, April 13, and the
following additional sites were care
fully studied: Water main dead end
corner Of Franklin street and North FL
Paso, dead end corner Montezuma and
Prospect streets, Rio Grsnde river just
below the county hospital. Rio Grande
river above the smelter across from
New Mexico Gust above the bridge).
Samples Of water were secured from
each site visited, and during the after
noon these samples were implanted in
plain gelatin, plain agar, litmus lactose
agar, and in Smith fermentation-tu bes
containing dextrose broth.
Study Of Growth.
The remainder of the afternoon was
devoted to the study of the growth of
the previous implantations.
Thursday. April IA, samples were
gain taken from the Suction" tank
at the Watts well station, the sewerage
condition of the neighborhood again
studied, and the remainder Of the day
given to work at the laboratory
Friday, April Is, was spent in the
laboratory.
The forenoon of Saturday. April Is,
was devoted to gathering samples Of
water fTon4-the Watts well, the Sue
ton tank and the Mesa for chemical
analysis, and in securing data from w
+. Anderson, concerning some details
of The International Water company's
plant. The afternoon, until 4:30, was
spent in the laboratory. studying the
bacterial growth Of all implantations
made during my stay in Ell PaSo.
1 left FL Paso $50 p. m Saturday,
and upon arrival at Austin, began the
chemical study Of the samples Of water
secured for that purpose, the results OF
which are given in Exhibits /, J, and X
A few bacterial colonies. and two
specimens of algae were also brought
TO Austin for further study. The re-
suits are given in Exhibits G. and H.
Effects Of Dust.
While the investigation was in prog
ress in FL Paso. il was observed that
the samples of water gathered on windy
DAYS showed a much larger number of
colonies Of bacteria than was exhibited
by the samples of water gathered on
quiet days. i. E., days when little wind
was stirring the air. On both occasions
external contamination in securing the
samples and in implanting them upon
nutrient media at the laboratory.
The marked difference in bacterial
contents suggested the probability of
greater aerial contamination on days OF
greatest atmospheric disturbance-more
particularly when the air was laden
with dust The work in hand required
so much time. it was not possible TO
definitely settle this important point
by the close OF the week: however, a
plan to investigate it was mapped out.
and subsequently carried out by DR..
Thatcher. DR.. Thatcher's results were
forwarded to me, and will be herein
found as Exhibits E. and F.
Exhibits A to H, inclusive, contain.
in tabulated form, the results of the
meteorological investigation Of the
waters mentioned in this report, and Of
the dust that frequently ladens the air
IN and about Ell Paso. Exhibits L. ].
ard K, contain in tabulated form, the
results Of the chemical investigation Of
the following waters: No. 1895, water
from Watts well; No. 1896, water from
the Suction" tank; No. 1897. water
from the Mesa reservoir. These eX-
hibits taken in connection with the in
formation gathered while personally
studying the sanitary condition OF the
localities in FL Paso visited by me dur
Ing tHe month OF April, lSlO, consul
tute the evidence upon which is based
the conclusions that will be found to-
ward the end of this report The evil
dence is worthy Of careful study.
Exhibit A
Number of colonies of bacteria deveI- |
oped IN plain agar from / c. C. of each |
sampIe-cOllected April Il:
Hours
Sample and source. "a IS - 96
Awaits well. -- 3 3 4 !
B-Settling basin --..- "a 36 Sc ]
C@Suction tank .237 27O 2S3 =
Driver (near Watts
WELD pa 292 474
-. 81 81 I35 .
at city hall - 25 $40 47S