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sources. I believe that a constant supply, with water waste
preventers, would be not only beneficial to the water coin-
panies, but a benefit to the inhabitants.
1868 it has been frequently asserted, but without
proof, that the noxious organic matter of sewage when discharged
into a river of considerable magnitude is entirely
destroyed by oxydation after a flow of a few miles. This
assertion is erroneous. In his evidence before the Rivera
Pollution Commission, Sir Benjamin Brodie says: "I should
say that it was simply impossible that the oxydising power
acting upon sewage running in mixture with water over a
distance of any length is sufficient to destroy its noxious
quality. I believe that an infinitessimally small quantity of
decaying matter is able to produce an injurious effect upon
health.
Five deaths have occurred at the end of the North
Road. In the house in which the mortality has been caused,
the pipe opening into the cistern from the cesspool is
untrapped, and contaminates the water used for drinking.
1872.—Notwithstanding the Act of Parliament, passed
in the Session of 1871, for the purpose of securing a constant
supply of water to the Metropolis, the delivery still continues
on the old intermittent system. The water drawn from the
butts of consumers is much more impure than the samples
drawn directly from the mains.
1873—The Government analyst states, as regards
turbidity, the water supplied by the Kent Company was
always bright and nearly colourless ; but that of the Lambeth
Company was at times turbid from the presence of finelydivided
clay of a harmless character.
The nitrogen, as organic and saline ammonia, has been
also remarkably small in qnantity.
But the water supplied by the companies differs
materially from the water which is at times contained in the
cisterns and butts of consumers.
Water is very liable to absorb noxious gases, as an
illustrations which I may mention the great facility with