Collection of reports (condensed) and opinions of chemists in regard to the use of lead pipe for service pipe in the distribution of water for the supply of cities / [James P. Kirkwood].

  • James P. Kirkwood
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Collection of reports (condensed) and opinions of chemists in regard to the use of lead pipe for service pipe in the distribution of water for the supply of cities / [James P. Kirkwood]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    3c? June, 1843. Dr. Thomas Clarke, Professor of Chemistry, Aberdeen University. It is well known that distilled water acts very readily upon lead. The cause of this action I apprehend to be the remarkable power that distilled water, compared with ordinary water, has of dis- solving free carbonic acid. In general an alkaline water will not act upon lead or upon iron. But, perhaps, I should not say, in general, for I have examined a sufficient number of cases to lay down a general rule With respect to lead pipes, I should say, the less lead is used the better in all cases It is desirable to use it [lead] as little as possible; not that it is in all cases objection- able, far from it. 2Sth March, 1844. Joseph Quick, Engineer of Southwark Water Company. u At Clapham Common the manor estate was supplied with water from a spring well in the center of the Common, through the lead pipes, and the inhabitants were attacked with severe illness, which was ascribed to the length of lead pipes through which the water passed. Lead was detected in the water upon analysis, and the lead pipes were taken up and iron pipes substituted. Angus Smith, M. D., of Manchester. 1850. It is acknowledged, that with soft water, lead is very dangerous, but I am disposed to think that it is dangerous even with hard, ex- cept when a crust forms upon it. It is time that the use of lead pipes and cisterns should be done away with, unless they can be protected. James Wayne, M. D., of Baltimore, U. S. I have met with several cases of disease from lead amongst workmen engaged in its manufacture, since my residence here, but have never observed any lead disease which might be attributable to the use of hydrant water.