London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1885
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Parish of St Mary]
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WATER ANALYSIS.
In the following tables I state the analysis (made monthly) of the New River Company's Water recorded by me during the year.
Analyses of Samples taken from the Works of the Company.
| 1885. | Total Solid Matter. | Chlorine. | Equal to Chloride of Sodium. | Nitrogen as Nitrates. | Nitrogen as Ammonia. | Oxygen required to oxidise Organic Matter. | Degree of Hardness. | Degree after boiling 1/4 of an hour. | Organic Carbon. | Organic Nitrogen. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.52 | 1.224 | 2.006 | 0.208 | 0.00 | 0.036 | 14.0 | 3.8 | ... | ... |
| February | 22.32 | 1.368 | 2.242 | 0.198 | 0.00 | 0.028 | 14.7 | 3.9 | ... | ... |
| March | 21.36 | 1.512 | 2.478 | 0.198 | 0.00 | 0.032 | 15.05 | 4.5 | ... | ... |
| April | 21.40 | 1.224 | 2.006 | 0.146 | 0.00 | 0.016 | 12.6 | 3.8 | ... | ... |
| May | 22.46 | 1.368 | 2.242 | 0.094 | 0.00 | 0.020 | 14.5 | 3.5 | ... | ... |
| June | 19.66 | 1.512 | 2.478 | 0.167 | 0.00 | 0.016 | 13.0 | 2.5 | ... | ... |
| July | 19.16 | 1.224 | 2.006 | 0.177 | 0.00 | 0.032 | 13.7 | 3.2 | ... | ... |
| August | 19.34 | 1.224 | 2.006 | 0.167 | 0.00 | 0.008 | 13.5 | 3.4 | ... | ... |
| September | 20.00 | 1.368 | 2.242 | 0.167 | 0.00 | 0.024 | 13.7 | 3.2 | ... | ... |
| October | 21.24 | 1.656 | 2.714 | 0.197 | 0.00 | 0.004 | 14.2 | 3.0 | ... | ... |
| November | 21.66 | 1.656 | 2.714 | 0.271 | 0.00 | 0.040 | 15.7 | 4.2 | ... | ... |
| December | 23.88 | 1.8 | 2.95 | 0.240 | 0.00 | 0.048 | 14.05 | 5.5 | ... | ... |
| Average | 21.33 | 1.428 | 2.340 | 0.186 | 0.00 | 0.025 | 14.06 | 3.7 | ... | ... |
Analyses of Samples taken from the Mains of the Company.
| 1885. | Total Solid Matter. | Chlorine. | Equal to Chloride of Sodium. | Nitrogen as Nitrates. | Nitrogen as Ammonia. | Oxygen required to oxidise Organic Matter. | Degree of Hardness. | Degree after boiling ? of an hour. | Organic Carbon. | Organic Nitrogen. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | ... | 1.260 | 2.065 | 0.244 | 0.00 | 0.016 | 15.3 | ... | 0.051 | 0.016 |
| February | ... | 1.260 | 2.068 | 0.226 | 0.00 | 0.019 | 14.8 | ... | 0.068 | 0.015 |
| March | ... | 1.128 | 1.864 | 0.194 | 0.00 | 0.028 | 15.2 | ... | 0.071 | 0.019 |
| April | ... | 1.368 | 2.242 | 0.194 | 0.00 | 0.013 | 14.2 | ... | 0.060 | 0.013 |
| May | ... | 1.224 | 2.006 | 0.108 | 0.00 | 0.010 | 14.05 | ... | 0.057 | 0.013 |
| June | ... | 1.295 | 2.124 | 0.158 | 0.00 | 0.039 | 13.25 | ... | 0.052 | 0.016 |
| July | ... | 1.286 | 2.124 | 0.171 | 0.00 | 0.033 | 13.13 | ... | 0.046 | 0.014 |
| August | ... | 1.320 | 2.163 | 0.177 | 0.00 | 0.013 | 13.36 | ... | 0.044 | 0.011 |
| September | ... | 1.44 | 2.36 | 0.177 | 0.00 | 0.013 | 13.39 | ... | 0.044 | 0.011 |
| October | ... | 1.44 | 2.36 | 0.208 | 0.00 | 0.015 | 13.7 | ... | 0.055 | 0.013 |
| November | ... | 1.464 | 2.399 | 0.267 | 0.00 | 0.027 | 15.52 | ... | 0.079 | 0.015 |
| December | 1.704 | 2.789 | 0.264 | 0.00 | 0.032 | 15.14 | ... | 0.073 | 0.015 | |
| Average | ... | 1.349 | 2.214 | 0.199 | 0.00 | 0.022 | 14.25 | 0.057 | 0.014 |