88 BACTERIOLOGY OF THE OYSTER. 



Another possibility would be to regard each set of tubes separately 

 and average the results. This would be the simplest method, but 

 it would not give so low a result as would be possible by one of the 

 other methods. In the case in hand the rating would be seventy- 

 seven as against thirty, the rating obtained by one of the other 

 methods. 



The writer has a case in mind in which the rating on one set of 

 tubes was three, which showed the oysters to be in a high state of 

 purity, while the duplicate set showed a rating of thirty-two, which 

 would condemn the oysters on the strict application of the standard 

 set by the Bureau of Chemistry. Obviously it would be unjust to 

 base our rating on either of the two sets of tubes alone. 



In the writer's opinion the standard set by the Bureau of Chemistry 

 of twenty-three as the highest permissible rating is very stringent 

 and every opportunity should be given the oyster growers to avail 

 themselves of a method of oyster analysis which will be more accurate 

 in its results and a method of rating that will more nearly represent 

 the sanitary condition of their product. 



