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from the scouring of the ditches, and from the organic material
suspended in the surface water, draining from agricultural lands
constituting the water shed. Although much of the organic
matter reaching the Thames is oxydised and rendered innocuous
in the course of its transit with the stream, yet much remains in
its unoxidised, and hence in a nocuous state. The best practical
means of filtration known to science, although effective in
removing the suspended impurities and a portion of the organic
in solution, can under no conditions be relied upon, for the
climination of the whole of the organic matters in solution.
Indeed a large proportion of this material passes through the;
best regulated filter beds.
In the classification of waters made bv the Rivers Pollution
Commission in 1874, the report under the heading of Suspicious
and Doubtful Water, includes all river water which exhibits and
proportion, however small, of previous sewage or animal con
lamination, and as a reason for the classification it states, "That
the Chemical Analysis cannot discover the noxious ingredien???
in water polluted by infected sewage, or animal excretion; and a
it cannot thus distinguish between infected or non-infected sewage
the only perfectly safe course is to avoid altogether the use for
domestic purposes of water that has been polluted with excre???
mentitious matter."
The power of the Vestry to deal with the short-comings of the
Companies is not of a statutory character. On December 3rd
however, the Vestry made a representation on the subject to the
Board of Trade and the London County Council.
H. WALTER VERDON, M.D., F.R.C.S.