Report on the chemical examination of several waters for the City of Boston / [Benjamin Silliman].
- Benjamin Silliman Jr.
- Date:
- 1845
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report on the chemical examination of several waters for the City of Boston / [Benjamin Silliman]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![and then their ultimate analysis, their action on lead, and some general observations.* Water Number One.—[From Mystic Pond, about 60 rods above the outlet, taken from the surface, 100 to 150 feet from the shore where the depth was more than 10 feet, collected August 16th at 11.55 A. M.] Appeared colorless, or nearly so, and quite transparent—on close observation a few floes of matter were seen floating about—and on looking down vertically through the height of the bottle, some slight departure from perfect colorlessness was perceptible, especially if a sheet of white paper was placed under the bottle. A very trifling quantity of light brownish green sediment was observable in the bottom of the jar, collected into little pellets. No odor could be perceived from this water, but it had a saline, brackish taste, like some river waters, and these properties were made more decided by holding a portion of the water in the mouth for a little time. Number Tvjo.—[Croton River—Taken from the upper reservoir City of New York, near the S. E. corner and near the outlet leading to the distributing reservoir ; collected Au¬ gust 25.] Was a shade or two less transparent than No. 1, when viewed from above and over white paper—as before mention¬ ed. On the bottom was seen a coat of fur of yellowish mat¬ ter, as well as some pellets of light spongy sediment in the angles of the bottle. A sheet of paper as seen by transmitted light, when held behind Nos. 1 and 2, appeared decidedly darker through No. 2 than through No. 1. Several lively animalcules were seen skipping about in No. 2 ; none were seen in No. 1. It had a slight sapidity and reminded one of the taste of marsh or swamp water so commonly perceived in the waters of lakes. No odor was perceived, and no un¬ pleasant taste was left in the mouth after retaining a portion of it for some time. Number Three.—[Spot Pond—Taken at 2 P. M., July 17th, 150 to 200 foot from the proposed outlet of conduit, and from the surface,—over a depth of 13 feet.] Transparent and one or two shades darker in color than No. 2. No animalcules visible, but after agitation a few * I feel bound to state that I have not seen the results obtained by other chemists who have, as I understand from you, analysed some of these waters, and am quite ignorant how far the results here given will compare with theirs.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30357287_0004.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
