IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
271 
ies belonged to this species. This Bacillus though actively 
motile had none of the cultural peculiarities of B. typhosus. 
Two species are quite commonly found in surface waters, 
namely the B. cloacce first detected by Jordan in sewage. 
I am inclined to think that both B. coli-commuyiis and B. 
cloacce occurred in the Briley shallow well, but the definite 
separation was not carried far enough to determine this 
point to my satisfaction, though Dr. Eli Grimes states B. 
coli-communis was found. 
THE COLLEGE WATER SUPPLY. 
It is certainly worthy of mention in this connection that 
all of the species found in the college w^ater supply in the 
tank are non-liquefying, and the fact that gas was found 
on one occasion does not argue that the college water sup- 
ply was contaminated. The simple fact that the species 
here found did not produce gas in the proportion given for 
B. coli-communis , namely, of two parts of H. to one part of 
C0 2 , but represented by formula one to two. It is also a 
significant fact that morphologically none of the species 
found indicated either B. coli-communis or B. typhosus in 
the college water supply. 
Of the oft-repeated statement that sewage contamina- 
tion might have occurred, I wish to state that the writer, 
together with Professor Marston, climbed to the top of the 
tow 7 er and investigated conditions, and everything was 
found in its usual good condition. There was certainly no 
indication of growth of algae on the water, nor were there 
any indications of other filthy conditions. In fact, the 
water, and everything connected with it, seemed to be in 
an ideal state. 
The statement has also been made that owing to the 
fact that the college at different intervals used the supply 
from the spring, and in this way became contaminated. 
An investigation made of the college spring water, as well 
as the different hydrants and cisterns, those of Professor 
Stanton, Professor Curtiss, and the old Sexton well, indi- 
Experimental Investigations St. Brd. Health, Massachusetts, 1889 - 1890 : 836, and 
later found by Moore to be widely distributed in the soil. 
Russell and Bassett. Trans. Amer. Pub. Health Asso. , 25 . 
