[Correlation between the intensity of spontaneous bacteriolysis and bacterial pollution in superficial waters]

A study on the determination of the intensity of spontaneous bacteriolysis in different samples of water from the hydrographic basin of Lorraine, has led us to propose a new way of expressing the spontaneous bacteriolytic power: PBSG. Its utilization has permitted us to establish correlations between the intensity of spontaneous bacteriolytic power and the degree of bacteriological pollution found in different places in the two rivers, the Moselle and the Meurthe. A very strong correlation has been shown between the rate of global spontaneous bacteriolysis after 6 days and the number of coliforms in the water.