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containing water near fermenting vessels in a brewery. In 1772 he employed gases obtained from
decomposition of chalk, etc., which he confined in an air-tight vessel, and, according to Professor
Huxley, to Priestley really belongs the credit of inventing soda water.
Between 1807 and 1852 thirty-one English patents for apparatus for preparing aerated water,
for methods of bottling, etc., were taken out; the applications under the title " aerated liquids,
mineral waters, aerating," during the years 1882-1886 inclusive, numbered 95. Since the year
last-named there has been a very great development of the industry, and it is stated in " Thorpe's
Dictionary of Applied Chemistry " that there are now manufactories of these beverages in nearly every
town in the kingdom.
The number of accidents caused by bursting of bottles raised question as to the need for
regulation by " special rules," and such rules (dealing with provision of wire gauze faceguards, masks,
etc., the use of gauntlets and the fencing of machinery), were issued by the Factory Department in
1897. The desirability of exercising control in the interest of the consumer of aerated water has from
time to time been suggested, both in this country and on the Continent, but it was reserved for New
York to make a first attempt in this direction; under section 202 of the Sanitary Code of the Department
of Health of that city, no person may manufacture or bottle mineral, carbonated or table water
without a permit. The example of New York is said to have been followed by other cities in the
United States.
In the following report an attempt will first be made to estimate the extent to which aerated
waters are consumed in London, then the risks of contamination to which water is exposed in process
of manufacture will be considered, the nature of the bacterial flora of aerated waters and the possibility
of spread of disease by this means will be referred to, and finally the question as to the steps which
may advantageously be taken to protect the health of the public will be discussed.

These figures show marked increase in the number of ginger beer, soda water, etc., manufacturers
in recent, as compared with earlier census years; they also indicate that female labour is being employed
in this industry more and more as time goes on.
Mr. Idris, J.P., L.C.C., has very kindly given me particulars which enable an idea to be formed of
the extent to which aerated waters are now being consumed in this country. It appears that 22,000
horses are employed in the industry in the United Kingdom, and from this it may be estimated, on
the usual basis, that there are 70,000 persons employed, and capital invested from 30 to 40 millions.
It is important to realise what these figures represent in quantity of aerated water consumed,
and thanks to Mr. Idris I am able to translate them in this sense. It transpires that the total
consumption per annum in the United Kingdom is upwards of 300,000,000 dozen half-pints. The
larger portion of this amount is sold in the north of England and London. It" the total
quantity consumed be divided by the number of persons in the United Kingdom, the average
consumption, per head of population, will obviously be far understated for London and the north of
England. A fairly close approximation to the average consumption per head of population in the
localities named may, perhaps, best be made by dividing say ¾, i.e. 75 per cent., of the total amount
consumed, by 15,000,000. On this basis some 15 doz. half pints would be the average consumption in
London per head per annum, i.e., ¼ pint per head* per diem. Of course in summer time this average
would be exceeded, in cold weather it would not be attained. From inquiries which I have made of
a number of persons living under various conditions in several parts of London, and from an independent
calculation based upon observations I have made in the East-end of London, I am led to the
conclusion that the figure given under-estimates rather than over-estimates the amount for London
as a whole, while there can be no dcubt that it falls far short of the consumption per head in certain
neighbourhoods.
It is interesting to compare the amount of liquid of various kinds consumed in London. The
"Alcoholic Beverages" returns, made by the Board of Trade, give particulars relating to beer, spirits and
wine ; there are also available records concerning tea, coffee, etc. These figures relate, of course, to the
United Kingdom. In an article in the "Quarterly Review" (1900), entitled " The Food of London" the
amount of various beverages consumed in London is discussed; particulars of interest in connection
* Ginger-beer, and some other beverages of an allied character, in which aeration is effected by fermentation processes,
have been, in making this calculation, included under the designation " aerated waters." it is important to bear in mind
that there is a difference between such forms of gmger-beer, etc., and soda water, etc., in that, in the case of the former,
there is a preliminary boiling process which does not, as a rule, find any place in the manufacture of the beverages last referred
to. The distinction is one which may prove to possess importance from a health point of view.