268 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



Collection of Sample. — The collection of satisfactory and 

 averao-e samples of water is an important part of the work 

 and at times offers great difficulties. In taking the sample 

 one should avoid the scum and debris, and it is better to col- 

 lect the sample from one to three feet below the surface of 

 the water. Wide mouth bottles with glass stoppers, having 

 a capacity of 150 c.c. are most suitable for the purpose. 

 Simplicity and reliability of collection, especially when this 

 work is intrusted to persons who are not bacteriologists, is an 

 important consideration, and in order to overcome some of 

 the difficulties incident to the collection of samples of river 

 water, I invented in 1899 an apparatus, as shown in Figure I., 

 and which may be described as follows : — 



The apparatus is made almost entirely of brass tubing and 

 consists essentially of two upright supports which are held in 

 place above and near the middle by means of two cross- 

 pieces, and at the ])ottom by means of a plate or base, which 

 supports the bottle. The two cross-pieces give attachment 

 • to a tube, which serves as a handle. Through the entire 

 length of the handle passes a snugly-fitting brass rod, to the 

 lower end of which is attached a spiral spring and a clamp, 

 which is provided with a thumb-screw. When the bottle is 

 in position the brass rod and the axis of the bottle are in the 

 same line. The liottle is held firmly in position by means of 

 an armed ring, which passes freely over the top and rests 

 upon the body of the bottle, so that by pressing downward 

 on the ring and securing it by means of the thumb-screw to 

 the support, the bottle will be held firmly in position. There 

 are also three pins on the plate at the l)ase, which prevent the 

 bottle from sliding. The handle is provided with a stirrup- 

 like arrangement, which aids in holding the apparatus when 

 it is lowered into the water. By fastening a cord to the rod 

 and a wire or chain to the stirrup, the apparatus may be low- 

 ered to any desired depth. Fastened to the side of the 

 apparatus is a glass tube, the bottom of which is sealed, but 

 the top of which is provided with a stopper, to which a cord 

 IS attached. This tube contains the thermometer. 



The bottle having been secured in position and the clamps 



