New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-07-04
CROTON WATER.
DUNLOP.
Lead Pipes.

To The Eddr Of Then Y Tribune
Sir: Inuy communication Of the Goth inst endeavored
show hst the CrOOn water becomes charged with salts OF
lead by moderately prolonged with pipe. Of that
metal that the poisonous matter produced consists of an
nsouble carbonate and soluble b carbonate and that
the power of the metal contamnse the water does not
cease supposed after brief period OF time,
but continues undminhed for many years if not indie
fney The period of contact requisite for the water 10
dissolve the maximum quantity Of the metal which is
capable Of taking up varies with circumstances but
find that in many twelve hours quite sufficient
for the purpose The amount OF metal which constitutes
this maximum is also variable and will depend in great
measure upon the amount Of atmospheric oxygen
ained in the water 1t is also probably influenced by diff
erences in the chemical purity and the molecular structure
of the lead Thus there are in The College Of Physicians
and Surgeons pipes which have been 10 use several
yesrs one of which affords IN twelve hours to the con
tanned sufficient amount OF the metal to be Re Adj
recognized by the sUlpburetteO hydrogen te with 'ut
conc niraion while the drawn from the otner after
similar exposure requires considerable concentration be-
fore 1t exhibits similar result
The determination with absolute accuracy, OF the quln
y lead contan,d ID water which has been IN contact
with H. IS a task difficulty, especially when II Is
very miuute-as when II amounts Ia out sntractpn OF
a grain 20 the gallon. result however approXmatng
closely 10 the truth be obtained very easily 10y sin
pie eNpeoitut portion of the water under eKsmuauon
eupposng be strongly charged with the metal As 10
be reaoy dskened in bue by suphureti-d hydrogen gas
is into pint beakergl.ss standing upon sheet
Of white paper and after acdulatiog with acec acid
il saturated with the gas This produces brown tint
more or les intense according the quantity lead pre-
s.If 4 similar glass containing pure satsr l. placed
alongside after the addition of t'le acid current
of the eas is passed through It. During is passage solu
tion Of sat OF that mttd IN the proportion
Of grain 10 the gallon cauuou'iy added unIi tue
LIQUID acquires the depth OF color sSthat IN the other
glass Tins point is erained with very considerable
PRECISION hy looking through the Il uids upon the
clue paper beneath by comparing the qI.nty of the
pure vaer with that If normal solution OF lead required
10 bring the same Oegree Of metallic imPrrgntton,
with hat OF the under A at once arrive ~ the
amount OF metal IN The latter
Numerous experiments made in this way have sho Tn
that the coton water at M season oi the year. acquires
from the pipes average after twelve hours contact
somewhere between one sixth and onenth OF gram OF
lead 20 the gallon.
But is pssible that water containing small guam
iy e., tins metallic poison seriously affect the heathot
those who drink Is not human lie too short TO admit
such an accumulation Of lead the stem from th-
as bs productive OF disastrous consequences Have We
hall million of cuzeus who use haoituaiy and con
siauiy all these being poisoned or q be- poisoned
These and similar inquiries nat ury present themselves
only 10 be answered from the recorded experience
Of respectable medical practitioners who have devoted
then selves To- the careful study of the subject
The attention OF the profession is rapidly awakening to
these matters and the medical literature both foreign
domestic the las; years shows tue growing por
lance which is attached 10 them. Among the reccat pub
hcaous the subject deserves particular notice fro
the great ability displays, and the multitude OF facts
embodes Ii is Report On the action OF water Lead
Pipes and the diseases proceeding fr m IT, made last
yesr TO the American Medical Association and pu 0isned
ihsir transactions by Committee 10 whom tue subject
hSc been referred the previous year The Co nmttee
sisted OF Or Horao Adams 1T Waltham as the author
O. the report and Drs samuel l. DAns ana j C. Dalton
I'll If whom had previously d-ungui,hed themselves oy
invest sons Cfthis subject Afew quotations from this al.
u'rabs report VIII not be out u place mere After giving
a succuC history OF the views entertained 81 different
times the acton Of water upon lead, and citing NUN
Der Of arising from the u.e OF esd transmitted
and the methods OF treatment. II proceeds 70 say:
The next point your Committee viii notice the crea.
difference ia the length 0f the exposure Of indvdua 10
lead irueuces before disease developed varying from
few weeks ~ something more than niue Years This may
IN fact BE- owing ae intensity degree of strength
H. posou introduced into the system. Extremely
orsutits may De- taken fer great length Of time before
there will be sufficient accumulation 20 produce disease
The uruttness Of the quantity OF the poiso9@n water,
which may IN time produce dis - cAliS~oc hniiei-
f> ina oe on Lnn1r,dM oi grain per gallon has been
known H. produce g. The Chairman Of your COMMITTEE
utCer his care case OF lead para gsis OF the
GEES OF le forearm hand and ingers o ous uo produced
lv lead water where 10 trace ot tile metal could D. de-
totc by The most delicate tests m TIE water bad been
conceu'ieo 50 per cent BY the tests above used, one
one huuortth Of grain Of lead pr on can be detected
IN natural water.
bat Ills discrepancy he Length Of exposure before
otast : produced usy be mainly oTn go difference ot
sosstp Cy IN the exposed IEis older 0i snsc-ot
1A! be due no doubt a. different degrees % constitutional
costs be 50 great render the i4ffifla co8p1rGfr
g mp tetqtte 20 the action Of this poison
lheIe Is "a HE community aud among medical men,
81 ~ ns ness to admit that this poison productive OF
much owl they urge the exemp on ofa certain number OF
those exposed enit ~ or IN very gree from
tle injurious eAycis ~ ms poison eyicen - that