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mycelium and other organic bodies (small fibres seen by Mr.
Wigner) which had caused the outbreak. I also ascertained
that there was a cross main leading to the main supplying
Stamford Hill, which accounted for the simultaneous occurrence
of diarrhoea at this part of the district. The cases occurred at
the part of the Hill above the junction of the cross main, and
in the line of direction taken by the water supply. Cases also
occurred in streets adjacent to Clapton Common and Stamford
Hill, but in a comparatively few instances only. I was
informed by a medical practitioner who drank some unboiled
water, that he suffered a good deal from abdominal pain, as
well as from diarrhoea. He also felt a considerable amount of
prostration, and had no doubt that it was caused by the water
supply. The failure of a chemical analysis to account for the
outbreak (as both samples of water would have been considered
as fairly good) shews that too much reliance ought not to be
placed on a chemical examination, but that in all cases
microscopical examination should also be made. In this
instance it revealed the presence of some organisms, which are
indicative of what is termed a " doubtful water." It is not
possible in the present state of chemical and microscopical
knowledge to say that a given sample of water is absolutely
harmless, probably because the state in which organic matter
exists in water is more important than the absolute amount. I
mean that when organic matter is undergoing change and breaking
up into simpler compounds, or acts as a pabulum for the growth of
the lower forms of life, a very small quantity is likely to be
injurious, whilst a large amount in another condition may he
quite harmless. The inability of chemists to distinguish
between water containing a small portion of the stool of a
typhoid patient, from that containing an equal proportion of a
stool from a healthy person, was shewn by experiments carried
out under the supervision of Dr. Cory, on behalf of the Local
Government Board. Further, the chemical analysis of a sample
of water containing one grain of enteric fever stool per gallon,
which is a most dangerous amount, would be scarcely