Practical bacteriology, microbiology and serum therapy (medical and veterinary) : a text book for laboratory use / by A. Besson ; translated and adapted from the fifth French edition by H.J. Hutchens.

  • Besson, Albert, 1868-
Date:
1913
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: Practical bacteriology, microbiology and serum therapy (medical and veterinary) : a text book for laboratory use / by A. Besson ; translated and adapted from the fifth French edition by H.J. Hutchens. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    883/928 (page 851)
    CHAPTER LXV. THE BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF WATER. Introduction. Section I.—The collection and transmission of samples ot water, p. Sol. Section II.—The methods of examination, p. 853. 1. Enumeration of the organism, p. 853. 2. Determination of the nature oi the organisms present, p. 856. 3. Houston’s method of water examination, p. 858. The bacteriological examination of sewage, p. 861. A chemical analysis of water by showing the presence of organic matter, nitrites, chlorides, ammonia, etc., will merely give a general indication that a water is polluted. A bacteriological examination on the other hand will not only reveal the fact that impurities are present in a water but will enable the living organisms which it may contain to be enumerated, isolated and identified. The detection of pathogenic micro-organisms in water is frequently of the highest importance. The bacteriological examination of water may therefore be divided into three parts : 1. The enumeration of the organisms present.—Quantitative examination. 2. The determination of the chief species present. | Quapq,ative 3. The isolation and identification of certain f examination pathogenic organisms. ) With a view to avoiding the introduction of organisms from without certain precautions are necessary in collecting a water for bacteriological examina- tion, and moreover the sample must be transmitted to the laboratory under such conditions as to prevent multiplication of the organisms in the water before the examination is begun, otherwise the results of the enumeration will be falsified. SECTION I.—COLLECTION AND TRANSMISSION OF SAMPLES OF WATER. Collection.—The water must be collected in a sterile vessel. In the majority of cases 200-300 c.c. will be sufficient but in certain cases, as for instance in searching for some of the pathogenic organisms, it is well to have 400-500 c.c. The method of collection will be as follows :— 1. Take a new white-glass bottle of suitable capacity, rinse it out well with water and after drying it plug it with wool and sterilize it. 2. To collect the water for examination flame the mouth of the bottle, remove the wool plug, fill the bottle as quickly as possible and plug with a