The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-02
Hazardous to Health

single sample.
Hazardous to Health
The colon bacilli, sewage bacteria,
shall not show a positive test in one
cubic centimeter Of water and yet
all Of the tests taken by The Times
show from 100 3. coli per &C. TO to
10 B coll per one &C.
Bathing or swimming in polluted
water. while not so dangerous as
actually drinking It, nevertheless is
extremely hazardous saws the state
sanitary boards report in reference
10 one state swimming spot along
river
Diseases. such as colds, Infections
Of eye, ear. nose and throat are
more likely TO be transmitted
through the swimming pool" the
state saws Of impurities in swim
ming water.
One OF the .ests to determine
colon bacilh is through the gas pro-
duced from samples in a lactose
broth.
Tests Are Positive
The presence If sewage bacteria
is indicated by the production Of 10
per cent or more of gas in lactose
bile and lactose broth media in
twenty-four hours at an incubation
temperature OF 37.5 degrees cent?
grade. says Palmer in explaining
the tests on river and creek pools
of the city.
Positive tests were obtained for
all four samples" he said.
The gas production was 9 per cent
above the finder-hgure 90 per cent?
at Warheigh; 2 per cent at Ravens
wood and Eagle creek. and IA per
cent on south White river
Microscopic green plants, called
plankton algae. that develop espe-
cially when water contains sewage,
were abundant at Warfieigh,
Ravenswood. and on south White
river, Palmer reports.
Odor Present in Waters
South White river also showed a
large number Of the microscopic
plants while Eagle creek Particular
ly was free from one of the signs
of sewage wastes.
Odor was present in all The waters
tested with Eagle creeks described
as faint" RavenSwood and War
fleigh. medium" and White river.
south. decided
ss7-ha fact fo,. a,,,v,,o,,fa ,x,oc yDoci -
tive for sample 3 white river.
SOUTH A positive test for amonia
indicates the presence of decom-
posing organic natter Palmer re-
ported to The Times.
RavenSwood'S water ranked high
est in turbidity muddy and roiled)
of the four spots sampled with Pal
mer's report of decided" and Eagle
creek was low with only slight
turbidity.
River Highly Contaminated
In a comparative analysis of the
four sampling spots. Palmer SAYS:
Sample white river. south) is
contaminated highly with sewage
This is indicated not only by the
meteorological tests but by the de-
cided odor. turbidity. presence OF
amonia and abundance of plankton
algae.
Sample 4 (Warfeigh heach) is
/ contaminated with sewage II has
a slight odor. but a decided turbid-
/ ity. a medium development OF
plankton algae microscopic plants
found in sewage, and a compare
| lively low bacterial count.
Sample (Ravenswood beach, is
contaminated with sewage. 1t has
a slight odor but a decided turbid-
ity. and an abundant growth of
1 plankton algae 1t has a fairly low
number of bacteria although the
number is greater than in Sample
4 tWarfeighO.
Warns Against Swimming
Sample Eagle creeks is con-
taminated with sewage. Although
this water has only a slight odoI
and slight turbidity and is practic-
ally free of plankton algae. it ha:
more bacteria than Sample 4 WAR
fleigh) and Sample CRavenswood)
and contains sewage bacteria just
as they do" Palmer concludes.
Palmer. in making the tests. hac
no knowledge Of where the sample:
had been taken. The samples were
taken by The Times. iced 20 prevent
growth of bacteria after Sampling
and placed under Palmers micro.
scope the same day the sample.
were obtained
Following the tests, Palmer. as Z
bacteriologiSt, was asked: "WoulC
YOU swim or permit your children Il