260 BACTERIOSCOPICAL EXAMINATION OF ICE SUPPLIED IN SYDNEY, 



on two different plates at certain distances fi'om each other to 

 freeze together, any remaining impurities are thrown off from the 

 ice into the water, leaving the former perfectly clear and trans- 

 parent." 



(2^ The "City Ice Company," Dibbs' Wharf, Miller's Point. 

 According to the information kindly furnished to me by the 

 IVEanager, Mr. C. S. Walker, the water used here is also the 

 City watei', but condensed (distilled) befoi'e being put into the 

 moulds. The ice is supplied according to the demands, both 

 directly it is manufactured and after ha\'ing been in stock for 

 from one day to three months. The machines ai-e worked on the 

 ammonia absorption principle. 



(3) The " Sydney Ice Company," Harris-street, Pyroiont. 



With regard to the ice from the works of this company, I regret 

 not to be able to give any satisfactory data, because my letters 

 asking for information, or for the delivery of samples of ice, 

 remained unanswered. Yet I examined (see below), a few samples 

 obtained elsewhere. The water used at these works is also the 

 common Sydney water, and the process of ice-manufacture will, 

 in principle, be the same as that in use at the others. 



Before giving notice of the results of the bacterioscopical 

 examination of the Sydney ice as to their contents of microbian 

 life, I wish to say a few words about the method of examining 

 employed by me. It is, I think, needless to repeat the funda- 

 mental rules to be observed in the carrying out of such or similar 

 "work ; in speaking of the nutritive gelatine, of glass vessels, &c., 

 used, it is a matter of course implied that they were properly 

 sterilised. 



The ice-samples which I receieved from the " N.S.W. Fresh 

 Food and Ice Company" (in lOlbs. blocks), and from the "City 

 Ice Company " (in 81bs. blocks) were, as already alluded to, not 

 more than about one day old ; samples coming from the " Sydney 

 Ice Company " I obtained in about 31bs. pieces from a shop near 

 Elizabeth Bay. I was told that they were freshly made. 



