Report on the Bacteriology of Water. 



251 



If we take the average numbers in the ninth column of Tables B (I) 

 and B (II), it is clear that a very rapid rise in the numbers occurred 

 during the first twenty-four hours, and continues during the second 

 day, and even to the third or fifth, and then comes a fall, slight at 

 first, and then rapid. Now, without insisting too closely on the 

 numbers — indeed, we expressly desire to emphasize the fact that they 

 can only be more or less approximate, from the nature of the case — it 

 is interesting to note how closely the general result compares with 

 the experience of other observers, working with the waters of rivers, 

 &c, in other parts of the world. For the sake of this general com- 

 parison, I append our own averages and those of one or two other 

 workers in the annexed tabular resume, where the averages are taken 

 in round numbers as approximations. 



