View report page

12 GENERAL REPORT.
give them a fictitious brilliancy is meretricious and
injurious to the consumer; probably as much so as
is the greening of pickles with copper. Full reference
was made to this subject in a special report on vinegars
which will be found in my Report for the year 1899 upon
the analysis of samples under the Adulteration of Food
and Drugs Acts.
WATER SUPPLIES.
Samples of water from the mains of the four companies
which supply the various portions of St. James's have been
frequently examined throughout the year. Occasional
samples have been faintly yellow in tint, and sometimes
slightly turbid, but in general the samples have been
bright and fairly colourless. They have always been free
from pollution.
On November 14th, 1900, new Regulations were proposed
by the Companies which supply London with water.
These new Regulations were proposed under the provisions
of the Metropolis Water Act, 1852, the Metropolis Water
Act, 1871, and the Metropolis Water Act, 1897. They were
to replace the Regulations now in force.
These Regulations, after provoking a remarkable commotion,
were withdrawn. Much of the commotion was
altogether unjustifiable, but some of the Regulations—
such as those which proposed that all warning pipes
should be made to discharge through the street-fronts
of the houses—were uncommonly foolish. It is astonishing
that these great Companies should have been so badly
advised as to propose such a set of Regulations. Nevertheless,
the duty of the Sanitary Authorities is to support
energetically those who administer the water
supplies of London, in so far as they endeavour
to prevent the waste, misuse, or possible contamination of