IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 271 



ies belonged to this species. This Bacillus though actively 

 motile had none of the cultural peculiarities of B. typhosus. 

 Two species are quite commonly found in surface waters, 

 namely the B. cloacw first detected by Jordan in sewage. 

 I am inclined to think that both B. coli-commmiis and B. 

 cloacce occurred in the Briley shallow well, but the definite 

 separation was not carried far enough to determine this 

 point to my satisfaction, though Dr. Eli Grimes states B. 

 coU-cowmunis was found. 



THE COLLEGE WATER SUPPLY. 



It is certainly worthy of mention in this connection that 

 all of the species found in the college water supply in the 

 tank are non-liquefying, and the fact that gas was found 

 on one occasion does not argue that the college water sup- 

 ply w^as contaminated. The simple fact that the species 

 here found did not produce gas in the proportion given for 

 B. coli-comnianis, namely, of two parts of H. to one part of 

 COo, but represented by formula one to two. It is also a 

 significant fact that morphologically none of the species 

 found indicated either B. coli-commuriis or B. tijpJiosus in 

 the college water supply. 



Of the oft-repeated statement that sewage contamina- 

 tion might have occurred, I wish to state that the writer, 

 together with Professor Marston, climbed to the top of the 

 tow^er and investigated conditions, and everything was 

 found in its usual good condition. There was certainly no 

 indication of growth of algae on the water, nor were there 

 any indications of other filthy conditions. In fact, the 

 water, and everything connected with it, seemed to be in 

 an ideal state. 



The statement has also been made that owing to the 

 fact that the college at different intervals used the supply 

 from the spring, and in this way became contaminated. 

 An investigation made of the college spring water, as well 

 as the different hydrants and cisterns, those of Professor 

 Stanton, Professor Curtiss, and the old Sexton well, indi- 



Experimental Investigations St. Brd Health, Massachusetts, l»!i89-1890: 836, and 

 later found by Moore to be widely distributed in the soil. 



Russell and Bassett. Trans. Anier. Pub. Health Asso. , 585. 



