12 



GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 



These organisms also occur in immense numbers in the 

 intestines of all the domestic animals and apparently of all 

 mammals. The following table shows some results obtained 

 by the writer with quite fresh specimens of animal excreta. 



The distribution of streptococci and B. enteritidis sporogenes 

 in animal excreta has not been so fully worked out, but as 

 regards B. coli this group has been found to be abundant in the 

 excreta of many birds and fishes. Their occurrence in birds 

 and fishes is of importance in connection with the bacterial 

 content of upland waters which may be contaminated with these 

 organisms from this source. 



Houston has examined the excrement of gulls and found 

 B. coli in enormous numbers. Streptococci and spores of B. 

 enteritidis sporogenes were present in the excreta of two only 

 (out of eight) of the gulls and in only small numbers. Eyre has 

 also found B. coli abundant in a gull and a number of other birds. 



Eyre and Johnson have independently examined a number 

 of fishes, the former from the sea, the latter from river waters 

 and both found B. coli to be present in the intestinal contents. 



All three groups of organisms are abundant in crude sewage. 

 The actual numbers found will of course vary greatly with the 

 strength of the sewage, but the data given by Houston give 

 average figures. These are B. coli and allied forms about 



