Reports made to the directors of the London (Watford) Spring Water Company, on the results of microscopical examinations of the organic matters and solid contents of waters supplied from the Thames and other sources / by Edwin Lankester and Peter Redfern ; together with a chemical report on the quality of various specimens of water from chalk springs near Watford, by Thomas Clark and John Smith.

  • London (Watford) Spring-Water Company.
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reports made to the directors of the London (Watford) Spring Water Company, on the results of microscopical examinations of the organic matters and solid contents of waters supplied from the Thames and other sources / by Edwin Lankester and Peter Redfern ; together with a chemical report on the quality of various specimens of water from chalk springs near Watford, by Thomas Clark and John Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    X PREFACE. The information contained in tlie Reports wliicli follow is the result of long, laborious, and costly investigations, and cannot fail to command the attention of all who are really anxious, that the inhabitants of the Metropohs should have within their reach a pure and wholesome water. Most river water, and surface drainage water, is more or less contaminated, especially in warm weather, with decaying animal or vegetable matter, derived from manured land, faded blossoms, fallen leaves, decaying plants, or the sewage of towns. Experience has proved, that no artificial means of filtration, now known or practised, can entuely remove such impurities. Rains cause river and surface water to become foul and muddy; and, in winter, such water is as cold as 33° or 34° Fahrenheit, while, in summer, it is as warm as 72° or 73° Fahrenheit. The subterranean water of the Chalk Springs near