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102
County Council during the year, with reference to
the existing supply to the Metropolis. The " Analytical
Investigation of London Water Supply,"
issued by the Parliamentary Committee in May,
1896, was of interest, as it contained information as
to the amounts and character of the suspended matters
in the water, the examinations being extended over
the year 1895. Whilst admitting that it is desirable
that there should be no such suspended matters in
water intended for drinking purposes, yet when
such matters amount to 0.0014 grs. per gal. of
"volatile and organic matters" (the inorganic may be
neglected), it does appear to be a very insignificant
affair. The results of Mr. Dibdin's examinations
for the determination of the number of bacteria &c.
present in filtered water are very different from those
obtained by Prof. Frankland. Mr. Dibdin's samples
were " collected from standpipes in various parts of
the respective Companies' districts," and that being
so, his results are not comparable with those of Prof.
Frankland, which are based on the examination of
samples collected at the waterworks, i.e., immediately
after leaving the filter. The true interpretation to
be placed on Mr. Dibdin's results is that need exists
for more supervision over the water in the course of
distribution. Prof. Klein's observations on the
bacteria present in the London Water Supply, are
unfortunately rendered less valuable by the absence,
in the published Report, of any information as to the