108 MICRO-ORGANISMS IN WATER 



Mascliek investigated three springs in Leitmeritz, 

 and found as many as from 700 to 3,000 organisms in 

 1 c.c. These springs are supplied by a mountain 

 stream, but, according to Maschek, the drainage from 

 dung-heaps gained access to them. Outside the town 

 the examination of four springs gave an average of 

 from 2 to 27 in 1 c.c. 



In springs at Zurich, Cramer 1 found from 9 to 

 3,425 organisms in 1 c.c. 



As in all other respects, so also in their bacterial 

 character, spring and deep-well waters are thus practi- 

 cally identical. 



Mineral Springs. Fazio 2 examined some of the 

 mineral springs which abound in the vicinity of Castel- 

 lamare (Bay of Naples), and found very few micro- 

 organisms. 



The samples investigated were taken from the 

 chalybeate springs of Castellamare, the carbonated 

 sulphur springs of Telese (containing carbonic acid gas 

 and sulphuretted hydrogen), and the alkaline springs 

 of Acetosella and Muraglione respectively. All these 

 waters are rich in carbonic acid gas, and Fazio attri- 

 butes the small numbers found at the source, and the 

 larger number at a distance from the source, respec- 

 tively to the concentrated condition of this gas in the 

 water where it rises and the subsequent partial dissipa- 

 tion and consequent diminution in the amount present 

 during the passage of the water. But impurities in 

 the shape of soil and aerial microbes must gain access 

 to the water during its flow, which would also account 

 for the increase in the number found at a distance from 

 the source. 



1 Die Wasserversorgung von Zurich, 1885. 



2 I Microbi delle Acque Minerali, Napoli, 1888. 



