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436
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METALS—THE NOBLER.
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with
the view of establishing conclusions just the opposite in character to
any such view as that now refuted. These experiments are for testing
the efficiency of a Copper method by which drinking-water may be
purified : especially too as regards the harmful bacilli of typhoid
infection. It was found that in every instance the " colon," and "
typhoid " bacilli were completely destroyed in less than four hours by
placing strips of Copper-foil in water containing pure cultures
(prepared for the purpose in the laboratory) of these noxious organisms.
Kraemer,
the scientific experimenter alluded to, considers it extremely
fortunate that so effective a method has been discovered for destroying
microorganisms in drinking-water, and which can be applied thus
readily on a large scale, whilst so safely, by the average householder.
The simple method which he suggests for domestic purposes consists in
merely placing a small piece of Copper-foil (three and a half inches
square) in a quart of water, and allowing this to stand overnight, or
from six to eight hours, at the ordinary temperature, and then removing
the foil, or drawing off the water.
Towards
proving similar conclusions by other collateral means, Copper coins
have been smeared by the experimental scientist with cultures of
diphtheria poison, under conditions fully favourable to its
development. But in a few hours every germ was dead ; thus affording
incontestable proof of some quality in the metal antagonistic to the
propagation of the disorder. An American physician in his enthusiasm
for Copper has gone so far as to attribute the surprising increase of
various internal ailments (which are probably of
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