26B BACTERIOSCOPICAL EXAMINATION OP ICE SUPPLIED IN SYDNEY. 



Laboratory, Elizabeth Bay* made during 1886-1887, resulted in 

 showing that the average number of bacterial colonies in Iccm. 

 was 246, that the majority of figures kept within reasonable 

 limits, and that in two cases only there were 2000 colonies for 

 Iccm. According to a few tests of the same water, made while I 

 was examining the Sydney ice, the number of colonies did not 

 exceed 200. 



We may conclude by saying that the Sydney ice would always 

 be found perfectly pure, that is free from any germs of whatever 

 description, if, instead of filtered water, only distilled water was 

 used, and the chances for secondary contaminations during the 

 process of freezing, carefully avoided. 



* This water, as mentioned abo%'e, comes from the same source (Nepean 

 River), as that supplied to the Ice-works in Sydney. I am well aware 

 that a comparison of the above kind can only be approximative ; more 

 satisfactory it would have been if a test had been made of the water from 

 the works just before being made to ice, but it was not possible for me to 

 do so. 



