METEOROLOGY — WATER. 1013 



Probable weather in the Republic of Mexico during the meteorological 

 year 1908. M. E. Pastrana and J. Guzman (Ilcr'aldo Agr., 8 (/.'W.S), No. 1, pi). 

 23-29). —The probable weather durins? each month of the year endhig November 

 30, 190S, is forecast by the central meteorolojiical ol)servatory of Mexico, 



Observations on the oxygen content of different samples of water, II. 

 Meiiiunc; {Land If. Ic/.s-. ,Stitt., i;7 (1907), No. ,5-6'. /)/). J,65--'i80).—A series of 

 observation.s on the oxyjjen content and oxidizing capacity of water from the 

 Oder lilver, reservoir water, and rainfall in Bi-eslau under \arying meteor- 

 ological conditions, is reported and discussed with reference to self-purification. 



Notes on the composition of the dissolved solids of the Nile, G. Burns 

 (Yearbook Ehcdiv. Agr. Soc. Cairo, 1006, pp. 1 S3-] 89). —The results of a series 

 of analyses made in 190G of samples taken at Gizeh are compared with similar 

 jinalyses of s:imples taken by Letheby at Boulac in 1874-7;"), and the data furnish 

 a basis for comparison of dissolved solids in the fiood water beginning in August 

 with those in the low Nile water. The later analyses do not show the large 

 tluftuations in potash and soda reported by Letheby, and disprove any claim 

 that the tiood water is especially rich in potash. 



Improvement of water for domestic and industrial purposes by means of 

 alumino-silicates or artificial zeolites, II. Gans (Jour. (Jasheleucht., 50 (1907), 

 pp. 1026-1029; ahs. in Jour. Soc. Chcm. Indus., 26 (1907), No. 23, p. 1251).— 

 From the results of further experiments here reported, the author concludes 

 that iron and manganese may be completely removed from water by passing it 

 through a filter composed of calcium-aluminum silicate, and that a hard water 

 may be softened by filtration through sodium-aluminum silicate, the latter sub- 

 stance also removing any iron, manganese, and ammonia which may be present 

 in the water. Hardness due to calcium sulphate may be removed by passing 

 the water successively through layers consisting of strontium-aluminum silicate 

 and calcium-aluminum silicate. 



On the importance of Bacillus coli communis as an indicator of pollution 

 of water with fecal matter, K. Saito (Arch. Hyg., 63 (1907), No. 3, pp. 

 215-236; ahs. in Clivm. Ztg., 31 (1907), No. 101, Repert. No. 93, p. 632).— The 

 author reports investigations indicating the universal occurrence of this organ- 

 ism in water, and therefore concludes that its presence can not be taken as 

 evidence of pollution with fecal matter. 



Lawrence Experiment Station (Municipal Jour, and Engin., 2-'t (1908), No. 3, 

 pp. 69-72, figs. 3). — This is a brief account of the work relating to water and 

 sewage purification which has been done during the past 20 years, and of inves- 

 tigations now under way at this station. 



It is stated that " one of the most remarkable and pointed results of the 

 work of the station was the great reduction in the death rate of the city of 

 Lawrence itself. This city draws its water supply from the Merrimae River, 

 which can safely be said to be one of the worst polluted rivers in the world. 

 It takes the sewage from a population of over 200,000 and the bacterial count 

 often runs above 13,000 and seldom less than 1,000. Previous to 1S93, Lawrence 

 had suffered a yearly visitation of typhoid fever, which caused a very high death 

 rate. In 1803 a water filter was constructed under the direction of the State 

 Board of Ilealth and following exi)eriments carried out at the experiment sta- 

 tion. The result of that action was to reduce the total death rate of the city 

 60 per cent, and the typhoid death rate 8r) i)er cent, and it might also be said 

 that the cost of the filter was saved in the first yt\ir in the reduction of funeral 

 expenses. 



"The conclusions that have been reached are, of course, particularly ai)pli- 

 cable to Massachusetts. About the only general statement that can be made is 



