BACTERIOLOGY AND WATER 109 



is borne out by the examinations of the clear 

 effluent derived from the treatment of the sewage 

 of a consumptive hospital which revealed the 

 presence of virulent tubercle bacilli, whilst they 

 were also discovered in the bottom of a ditch 

 conducting the effluent away. 



Such facts as these deserve the earnest attention 

 of all public authorities, and it is to be hoped 

 that the overwhelming evidence which is now 

 available regarding the distribution and Spartan 

 character of the tubercle bacillus will lead to 

 serious efforts being made to bestow upon it that 

 measure of consideration which in the case of 

 recognised zymotic diseases leads to the enact- 

 ment of rules and regulations for the restriction 

 at least of the fateful activities of these malignant 

 foes of mankind. 



Before leaving the subject of bacteria in relation 

 to water, it will be interesting to glance at what 

 is known regarding the attitude taken up by these 

 minute forms of life towards that large and ever- 

 increasing class of waters vaguely grouped to- 

 gether under the synonym of mineral waters. 

 The fortunes made in manufacturing artificially 

 aerated waters and the mine of wealth contained 

 in a new mineral spring are sufficient evidence 

 of the popularity enjoyed by this description of 

 beverage. The beer and spirit statistics of the 



