22 ELEMENTS OF WATER BACTERIOLOGY. 



mushroom type. It is desirable that these bottles should 

 have a capacity of at least ioo c.c. 



They should be cleaned thoroughly before using, by 

 treatment with sulphuric acid and potassium bichromate 

 or with alkaline permanganate of potash followed by 

 sulphuric acid, dried by draining, and sterilized by dry 

 heat at 160 C. for at least one hour, or by steam at 115 - 

 120 for fifteen minutes. If not to be used immediately 

 the neck and stopper should be protected against dust 

 or other contamination by wrapping with lead-foil. For 

 transportation the bottle should be enclosed in a suitable 

 case or box. 



The greatest care must be taken that the fingers do not 

 touch the inside of the neck of the bottle or the cone of the 

 stopper, as the water thereby would become seriously 

 contaminated and rendered unfit for examination. It is 

 well known that bacteria are found abundantly upon 

 the skin, and Winslow (Winslow, 1903) has shown that 

 even B. coli is present upon the hands in a considerable 

 number of cases. 



In order to obtain a fair sample, great- precautions must 

 be taken, and these will vary with the different classes of 

 waters to be examined and with local conditions. If a 

 sample is to be taken from a tap, the water should be 

 allowed to flow at least five minutes (if from a tap in regu- 

 lar use) or for a longer period in case the water has been 

 standing in the house service system, since in the small 

 pipes, changes in bacterial content are liable to occur, 



