130 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [May, 



metres; on September ii, 1891, there were found 927,400 ; on 

 October S the number had fallen to 675,700, but subsequently 

 again rose until the enormous maximum was attained on January 

 18, 1892, of 1,428,600 per 100 cubic centimetres. Diatoms were 

 present on the same date to the amount of 200,700 per 100 cubic 

 centimetres, giving a total of- diatoms and grass-green algae of 

 1,629,300. 



On August 31st this water contained bacteria to the amount of 

 23,300 per 100 cubic centimetres ; September 1 1 , 49.100 ; and on 

 October 8, 708,000 per 100 cubic centimetres. 



Of the blue-green algse (Cyanophyceae ) there were present on 

 August 31, 371,000 per 100 cubic centimetres ; on September 11, 

 266,800 blue-green algje ; on October 8, 8,400 blue-green algae, 

 while on January 18, 1893, blue-green algae were entirely absent. 



This series of analyses of samples from Easton's pond brings 

 out the importance of a knowledge of the microscopical forms, in 

 order to appreciate the significance of the bacteria. Thus on 

 August 31 and September 11 there were only 33,300 and 49,100 

 bacteria per 100 cubic centimetres, while the sum of the grass- 

 green and the blue-green algae on the same dates is 548,750 and 

 1,194,300 respectively. On October 8 blue-green algae had fal- 

 len to 8,400, while bacteria had risen to 708,000 per 100 cubic 

 centimetres. 



Dr. Drown's report gives a series of analyses of samples from 

 South pond and Paradise pond, also sources of supply for the 

 city of Newport, which further illustrate the same points. 



While the foregoing, however, may be deemed sufficient for 

 present purposes, it may be still remarked that this Newport re- 

 port, by reason of presenting (i) a detailed study of the environ- 

 ment ; (3) the physical properties of the water ; (3) the chemical 

 constituents, and (4) a quantitative enumeration of the living 

 forms, including the bacteria, may be considered a complete san- 

 itary analysis, the first, so far as the author is aware, that has 

 been published of anv city water supply aside from those made 

 under the auspices of the State Board of Health in Massachusetts. 

 The Massachusetts reports thus far have not presented the num- 

 ber of bacteria ; hence the Newport report in reality marks, in a 

 very satisfactory way, a new era in the sanitary analysis of pota- 

 ble water. The Board of Health of Newport, in causing such a 

 study of the water supply of the city to be made, has set an ex- 

 ample of intelligent appreciation of the recent advances in this 

 department, which, it is hoped, will bear fruit, not only in in- 

 creased healthfulness to the citizens of Newport, but in increased 

 incentive to similar work in other towns.* 



The water supply of the city of Boston may be mentioned, in 

 this connection, as one where the microscopical life has been 



* For detail of the Newport water supply see a report to the Board of Health of the city of 

 Newport, R. I., on the character of the public water supply. By Thomas M. Drown, M. D., 

 Prof, of Analytical Chemistry in the Mass. Inst. Tech., 1892. 



