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18
Two other samples were submitted in addition to the samples
of beer. On visiting Messrs. Hopkins & Sons, my attention was
drawn to the fact that in certain of the tanks that has been
used there was a crystaline powder, which was thought to be
the enamel flaking off. In addition, on examining certain of the
tanks that were remaining at the Brewery, it was found that the
junctions were packed with a white substance presumably Plaster
of Paris. In order to be perfectly certain, I had samples of these
analysed for the presence of lead. It will be seen from Messrs.
Eynon & Lane's analysis that the salt of lead contained in the
sample of powder from the tank is that which occurs in enamel,
viz.: the Silicate of Lead, and it was thought that this might be
the actual solution of the lead salt of enamel in the beer which
had re-crystalized on drying. Examination under the microscope,
however, revealed the fact that these were merely flakes of the
enamel which had disintegrated as the result of the action of tlie
beer and did not show any definite crystaline form. In order to
pin the matter down still further, it was necessary to find whether
the tanks which were known to be affected were in the house
where the trouble had taken place or not. To this end, I obtained
the serial number list of the tanks installed in all the firms
premises.
Analysis of these figures showed that with the exception of
the first thirteen which were installed in the Hammersmith
Houses, there was evidence that the earlier batches stood
condemned. The samples of enamel which were examined by
Mr. Chapman were taken from tanks No 21 and 97. These
together with the history of the outbreak proved that with the
exception of the first thirteen tanks, the first hundred contained
large quantities of lead. In view of this, the Brewery Company
undertook to get specimens of the enamel from one of the tanks
supplied to one of the Hammersmith Houses and have that
examined for lead. A sample from No. 8 that had been in use
in the “Hampshire Hog” was chosen, and Messrs. Eynon and
Lane's report is as follows:—