March, 1907.] 
The Public Drinking Cup. 
was redissolved to make.the results unreliable, hence all notes 
should be made as soon as the tests are completed. 
It is also possible to add an excess of silver nitrate, when 
testing the solution, and if this is done a slight precipitate may 
be redissolved and inaccurate results obtained. 
Summary of Results. 
In drawing conclusions as to the rapidity with which the gas 
will diffuse to different parts of the fumigating box, it should be 
borne in mind that this will depend somewhat on the violence of 
the reaction, which will probably differ slightly in every test on 
account of differences in size in the lumps of cyanide used, the 
depth to which they are submerged, and the thickness of the 
paper which is used for wrapping. 
In an empty box the gas diffused very rapidly, as is shown in 
tests one and two, every sample taken indicating its presence. 
Equally good results were secured when the floor of the empty 
box was drenched with water. 
In the case of the box that was packed with stock it appeared 
that the diffusion was retarded, but reactions were secured, 
showing the presence of the gas in all the samples drawn in the 
longer periods. Very similar results were secured in both tests, 
and as far as the data in the experiment goes, no difference in 
result was noted, whether the temperature was normal (72°), or 
at the freezing point (32°). 
From the results of test^ seven it appears that it is not desir¬ 
able to fumigate stock that is drenched with water, although in 
this test a trace of the gas was found in each sample drawn. 
Columbus, Ohio. 
THE PUBLIC DRINKING CUP.* 
Bacteriological Report. 
Eugene F. McCampbell. 
It was suggested long ago that the public drinking fountain 
with its chained cups is decidedly unsanitary but few investiga¬ 
tions are on record to prove this point scientifically. In the 
hope of adding something to the somewhat indefinite knowledge 
and to find out if possible exactly what objectionable species of 
bacteria were present, we made a series of ten bacteriological 
examinations of drinking cups from various fountains. In 
selecting cups for the examinations those which appeared to be 
decidedly unsanitary as well as those which appeared cleanly 
and connected with fountains which were used by the higher 
strata of society were selected. 
* Read before the Ohio State Academy of Science, November, 1906, 
Columbus, Ohio. 
