Practical bacteriology, microbiology and serum therapy (medical and veterinary) : a text book for laboratory use / by A. Besson ; translated and adapted from the fifth French edition by H.J. Hutchens.

  • Besson, Albert, 1868-
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Practical bacteriology, microbiology and serum therapy (medical and veterinary) : a text book for laboratory use / by A. Besson ; translated and adapted from the fifth French edition by H.J. Hutchens. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    885/928 (page 853)
    COLLECTION OF THE WATER the bottle fits tightly is packed rbund with ice and sawdust—a large quantity of the latter will of course be necessary to absorb the water from the ice as it melts. THouston has devised a very convenient piece of apparatus for the collection and transit of water for bacteriological examination. fit consists of a rectangular wooden box with an hinged lid the whole lined with thick felt. The box contains an hollow water-tight copper vessel—which fits two sides of the wooden box closely—destined for the reception of ice and closed above with a large india-rubber bung. The remainder of the space is occupied by a felt box open above and divided into compartments for the reception of flat rectangular bottles. The wooden box with its felt lining acts as a non-conductor of heat and the copper vessel with its contained ice keeps the temperature at as near 0 C. as possi ^ e. The bottles used are ground-glass-stoppered bottles of 8 ozs. capacity. The stopper should be covered with paper before sterilization and this should not be removed until the water is to be collected. ] Particulars to accompany the sample.— bull particulars as to the souice of the water, the nature of the examination required, etc. should accompany the sample so that as much information as possible may be furnished upon which to base an opinion. The following is a copy of the official form in use in the French military sanitary service:— Particulars of the water sent for examination by— (1) Authority by whom sent— (2) Reasons lor sending (epidemic,—spring to be tapped potable water, etc.). (3) Source of the water (spring, well, filtering gallery, cistern, reservoir, etc.). State the depth of the well, cistern, or reservoir and the level of the water at the time of collection. (4) Exact place where the water was collected (e.g. whether from the spring itself or from a tap at the end of a conduit—whether from a well or from a pump connected with the well) : never collect the water which first issues from a tap or a pump. If the water is taken from a river, well or reservoir, state whether collected from the surface, or from the bottom or from some intermediate j3oint. State the last occasion on which the cistern or reservoir was cleaned and whether there is dust on the surface or sediment at the bottom. (5) Has any rain fallen or snow melted in the few days preceding the taking of the sample ? Is the water muddy ? Is the level above or below normal ? (6) State any cause of permanent or accidental pollution to which the water appears to be exposed. (7) The purposes for which the water is required (i.e. for drinking purposes, cooking, lavatories, watering horses, etc.). (8) Is the water used for drinking without previous purification ? State, if there is any, the apparatus used for purification. (9) Atmospheric temperature at the time of collection. (10) The temperature of the water at the same time. (11) Day and hour of collection. (12) Other remarks. SECTION II - METHODS OF EXAMINATION. 1. Enumeration of the organisms. Numerous methods of enumerating the organisms in water have been suggested. Some bacteriologists base their methods upon isolation by dilution in liquid media (p. 76) (Miquel). Others adopt the method of isolation on gelatin plates (Koch). It is not proposed to discuss the pros and cons of these different procedures but those in most general use will now be described in detail. General rules.—The cubic centimetre is generally adopted as the unit of volume in enumerating the number of organisms in water and it is customary to speak of a water as containing say 50,000 organisms per c.c.