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bility of the water, and imparts to it a more or less
brownish-yellow tint." But "no unpalatable or objectionablytinted
water was delivered in London during the year." The
customary reference is made to the " various contributions of
organic matter of animal origin," finding their way into the
rivers; such matter being liable to be accompanied at any time
"by zymotic matters dangerous to health." It is, however,
"gratifying to find, as the result of recent researches, that the
zymotic matters of a pathogenic kind are rapidly destroyed
in running water, so that the most minute microscopic
inspection of the water as it reaches the intakes of the various
companies, has hitherto failed to discover in it a single pathogenic
germ. Further, it is now an established fact that
efficient sand filtration would prevent the passage of such
germs into the filtered water, even should they arrive in a
living condition at the intakes of the companies. Thus the
hygienic objection to the use of filtered water taken from the
Thames and the Lea is removed." This conclusion is in
harmony with the views expressed by the Royal Commission,
and in regard to it, Professor Frankland adds that
" this result of recent observations, carefully and laboriously
conducted in this country, in Germany, and especially in
the United States of America, is con finned by the absence in
London since the year 1866 of zymotic diseases traceable to
the water supply." The water supplied by the three local
companies (Grand Junction, West Middlesex, and Chelsea)
were clear and transparent, when delivered, on all occasions
throughout the year.
Bacterioscopic Examination.—Professor Frankland deals
at length with the subject of bacterioscopic examination.
Water for this purpose is examined immediately after leaving
the filters, and before being pumped into the distributing
mains, as it would be futile to make such examination of water
drawn from the mains, as delivered in London, owing (among
other reasons) to the rapidity of multiplication of harmless