282 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



dlesou is attacking it witli energy and intelligence. More funds should 

 be available for additional men and e(]ni])m(Mit. 



Miss ;Xortlirup, Assistant J>acteriologist, subniits the following re- 

 port on bacteriological water analyses from July 1, 191C, to June 30, 

 1017: 



''During the past fiscal year forty-five sam])les of water were analyzed. 

 All except live of these were from wells fi'om rnral comnnmities. Fifteen 

 of the latter, 37.5%, showed a bacterial count of less than 100 per cubic 

 centimeter of water, and two of these thirteen contained no organisms 

 wliich would grow on litmus lactose agar at 37°C. An important fact 

 however is to be noted, — pre of tlu; fifteen mniplcs showing this low 

 bacterial count were more or U^ss polluted with intestinal organisms of 

 the colon type. This shows that the bacterial count alone cannot be de- 

 pended upon to indicate the i)urity of water. Water of tins type is most 

 dangerous as it is deceiving to the consumer and also to the analyst un- 

 less he uses a considerable number of tests some one or two of which 

 will give positive results. 



"Eleven samples contained between 100 and 1,000 bacteria per c. c. 

 five of these showed sewage contamination. The remaining nineteen 

 contained from 1,000 to 8,000 bacteria per c. c. with four exceptions the 

 counts of which ran over 10,000, 22,000, 13,000 and 83,000 per c. c. 



''These analyses perhaps in some cases are not in any way indicative 

 of the sanitary condition of the water just as it was drawn; there are * 

 so many factors that may enter into this problem and complicate mat- 

 ters or change them entirely before the analyst gets the sample. Some 

 of these are the container, the stopper or cover of the container, the 

 technic of obtaining the sample, the method of shipping and the time 

 on the road, all of which are in a large measure beyond the anah^st's 

 control. For example, water samples are frequently sent in lemon or 

 vanilla extract bottles, liniment bottles, etc., with the original cork 

 which may contain enough of certain essential oils or other compounds 

 to have a decided antiseptic effect on the organisms present. Other bot- 

 tles may contain small amounts of substances which Avill serve as a food 

 and thus cause the bacteria to multiply enormously. Handling sterile 

 containers may be done in such a way as to contaminate them with or- 

 ganisms of the sewage type. An instance of this occurred this year. 

 Two samples were sent in for analysis from a large farm near Grand 

 Rapids both of which proved to be contaminated. A letter to this effect 

 produced great surprise to the sender and when the conditions surround- 

 ing the wells w^ere noted they seemed ideal. The suggestion was then 

 made to him that this contamination resulted from improper handling 

 of the containers. A second sample analyzed after the suggestion was 

 made use of proved the point. 



"It seems as if the people of Michigan should be made acquainted 

 through this college, not only with the proper Avay to obtain and ship 

 water samples for bacteriological analysis, but with the proper methods 

 of well construction and of sewage disposal which are of equal import- 

 ance in determining the health of the rural population. 



"One water sample from a deep spring was sent. in for determination 

 of green material present. On microscopical examination this proved 

 to be due to a microscopic form of plant life called Protococcus. An- 

 other which was sent in for determination of cause of a brown scum 

 proved to be affected by the growth of iron bacteria. 



