488 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.38 



Stirface water supply of the South Atlantic and Eastern Gulf of Mexico 

 Basins, 1915 (C7. S. Qeol. Survey, Water-Supply Paper 1,02 (1916), pp. 51+XXX, 

 pis. 2). — This report presents the results of measurements of flow made on 

 streams in the South Atlantic and Eastern Gulf of Mexico Basins during 1915, 

 together with the usual list of stream-gauging stations and publications. 



Manual for water supply in villages, R. P. Spabbo (Poso'ie dUa SeVskago 

 Vodosnabzheni{a. Moscow: Glav. Uprav. Zemleustr. i Zemled., Otd. Zeml. 

 Uluch., 1915, 2. ed., pp. 205, pis. 8, figs. SO). — This book deals with ponds, dug 

 wells, and springs as sources of water supply for villages and with machinery 

 and apparatus for making such water available. 



Bacteria in deep wells, F. W. Tanneb and E. Babton (XJniv. III. Bui., H 

 (1916), No. 5 , pp. 214-224, fig. 1; abs. in Abs. Bact., 1 (1911), No. 2, pp. 156, 

 151 ; Chem. Abs., 11 (1911), No. 11, p. 1106). — This is an abstract of a thesis in 

 which studies of the number and character of the bacteria of waters from deep 

 wells at different points in Illinois which had been in use for some time are 

 reported. The wells varied in depth from 113 to 895 ft., with one 2,000 ft. deep. 



While no definite conclusions were drawn, it was found that " these waters, 

 which apparently are protected against contamination, contained bacteria com- 

 monly found in water. . . . The bacteria isolated occur in shallow well water 

 and may not have come from a deep seated water, which is perhaps sterile." 



With reference to Bacillus coli in ground waters, an investigation was made 

 on a series of 19 tubular wells from 80 to 125 ft. deep In alluvial sand and gravel 

 near a river. The results of analysis showed a decided difference in composi- 

 tion between the water of the river and that from the wells. Gas-forming bac- 

 teria were present in 10-cc. samples of the water in more than 90 per cent of the 

 analyses made. The 1-cc. samples were positive in 43 per cent of the determi- 

 nations, but in the 0.1-cc. samples there were only nine positive tests in 62. Gas 

 formers isolated from six samples had characteristics like those of B. coli. 

 Liquefying bacteria were present in a few samples and fluorescent colonies were 

 identified in many. Some were identified as B. fluorescens liquefaciens and 

 B. fluorescens nonliquefaciens. 



In an experimental study to determine whether surface seepage enters wells, 

 1 ton of fine salt was evenly divided among 11 privy vaults located near water 

 supplies. No direct connection with pollution from surface sources was found. 



Twenty-seven references to literature bearing on the subject are appended. 



The factors which influence the longevity of Bacillus coli and B. typhosus 

 in waters, M. E. Hinds (Univ. III. Bui., U (1916), No. 5, pp. 225-233) .—Thl^ Is 

 an abstract of a thesis, In which experiments are reported and the conclusion 

 reached that " In pure, natural water and in redistilled water B. coli and 

 B. typhosus die from starvation at a regular rate. The rate of death inci*eases 

 with the temperature and Is similar to the rate of a chemical reaction, thus 

 following the monomolecular law. The presence of mineral matter had no 

 apparent effect on the organisms. The presence of oxygen under starvation 

 conditions seems to be harmful to B. coli and beneficial to B. typhosus." 



Twelve references to literature bearing on the subject are appended. 



The viability of colon-aerogenes bacteria in water, L. A. Rogers (Abs. 

 Bact., 1 (1911), No. 1, pp. 56, 51). — Recent work, including some unpublished 

 results of the author, show that fecal bacteria Include, in addition to the true 

 Bacillus coli which is characterized by a carbon dioxid ratio of approximately 

 1 : 1, a variety of Bacterium aerogenes which Is distinguished from the type 

 found commonly on grains by Its uniform fermentation of adonlte. 



In water artificially infected with feces and held at 20° C. there was a 

 gradual change in the ratio of these two types until at the end of nine months 



