Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
November,  1920.  | 
Bacteria  in  Soft  Drinks^ 
803 
Sodium  Iodide. 
Nal  taken,  10  Gm..  .  no  (i  10.13)  Gm.  502  (502.4)  Gr.  18  Oz.  av.  163  Gr. 
Water  taken,  5.5  Cc.  61  (60.57)  Cc.  291  (290.68)  Min.  9  Fl.  Oz.  331  Min. 
Resulting  volume, 
9.08  Cc   100  Cc.  I  Fl.  Oz.  16  Fl.  Oz. 
Magnesium  Sulphate. 
MgS04  taken,  10  Gm.    63  (62.9)  Gm.     287  (286.99  )  Gr.    10  Oz.  av.  217  Gr. 
Water  taken,  10  Cc. .    63  (62.9)  Cc.       302  (301.87)  Min.  10  Fl.  Oz.  3oMin. 
Resulting  volume, 
15.9  Cc   100  Cc.  I  Fl.  Oz.         *        16  Fl.  Oz. 
BACTERIA  IN  (SO  CALLED)  SOFT  DRINKS. 
Louis  Gershknfeld-,  Ph.M.,  B.Sc, 
PHIIvADElvPHIA,  PA. 
Scientific  investigation  has  given  ample  proof  that  there  is  a 
close  connection  betv^een  the  spread  of  disease  and  the  water  that 
is  used  in  a  community.  A  pure  water  supply  is  of  first  importance 
in  the  prevention  of  disease  and  in  the  conservation  of  public  health. 
From  time  to  time,  there  has  been  considerable  discussion  over 
the  superiority  of  the  chemical  or  bacteriological  examination  of 
water.  This  has  been  quite  useless,  for  though  a  bacteriological 
analysis  may  be  shown  to  be  of  greater  importance,  a  chemical 
examination  will  nevertheless  detect  the  presence  of  certain  chemical 
substances,  from  the  relative  amounts  of  which,  an  inference  may 
be  drawn  as  to  the  existence  of  pollution  with  human  or  animal 
excreta,  or,  in  some  instances,  with  poisonous  or  injurious  com- 
pounds. It  is  therefore  apparent  that  both  examinations  should 
be  carried  out. 
It  is  with  this  in  mind,  that  communities  are  compelled  either 
by  state  or  other  recognized  authority,  to  determine  the  purity  of 
their  water  supplies,  by  performing  bacteriological  and  chemical 
examinations  at  frequent  intervals. 
It  is,  of  course,  evident  that  such  steps  taken  for  the  careful 
guarding  of  our  water  supplies  are  justifiable.  Furthermore,  it  is 
apparent  why  sanitarians  soon  became  interested  in  the  control  of 
milk,  cream,  ice  cream,  ketchup  and  other  food  supplies,  so  as  to 
determine  that  these  products  will  not  introduce  disease  into  the 
numerous  communities.  But  there  seems  to  be  one  class,  the  soft 
drinks,  used  so  extensively,  that  has  been  sadly  neglected  by  the 
