New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-06-20
CROTON WATER


by the lead servce.ppes which almost universally en-
ployed for distributing il in dwellings This subject
was sated with much eanestness at the time OF the urst
Introduction of Croton Water into the City and numerous
experiments were instituted By Dr. Chiffon and Others all
Of which established the fact that the water DID become
ensiby mpregnated with poisonous compounds of lead
by standing for few hours in pipes of that metal
The spprehensons thus excited were, however, in
great measure aayed by reeresce to the then regarded
indsputAble authority Of Dr. Christison Of Edinburgh
from whose experiments il inferred thar the danger
was merely temporary and could be entirely o6yAted by
the employ of very simple precaution that IN TACT
certain saline substances known to be present in the Gro
ton Water would have the effect OF producing IN short
time an nsoube lining in the interior Of the pipes which
vopd efectuay protect the water from subsequent ac
ton upon the metal and that it, during the first few days
or weeks after the introduction of the Croion water INTO
house il were allowed to run freely TOR lew minutes
each time was used before any taken for the Par
p.se Of drinking cooking perfect safety would DE III
sured
This opinion seemed also to receive confirmation from
the results OF certain experiments made IN lis oy troiSs
sor Horst ri Of Csmbudse previous 10 the INTRODUCTION Vi
the COchituAte water into Boston
But bile the fears of uolc this score were thus
generally queted and conspicuous eases o disease H
Ided wish the aggravated symptoms OF oaa poson
irg directly Isceabe 10 the use OF troon wafer from eau
s4Tyic. piues occurred them large number OF
orr most medical practitioners we're dstraIW
mon the su beet They knew that exceedingly minute
M the salts OF lead habuay introduced into the
system would be accumulated in the tissues and would
sooner later be followed by deeterous effects spon the
health They knew that Louis Philippe and his suite to
the number thirteen, seriously affected with lead
disease at Caremon by drinking water which contained
o. IL grain of that metal Ia Tho Imperial gallon ana
thai cases had occurred in which water containing only
o1,,r,, OF hat quantity OF The pernicous metal had
uroduced niuri, fleets upon the human system They
were also occasionally observing in their practice anom
ous arrangements OF the system and obscure neuralgia
artlrctic gastrc affections which seemed 70 indicate
the slow action Of metallic poison under circumstances
where ud not be referred 10 any other source h TIE
water drunk by their patients.
such beng the have been induced 10 occupy my
self for some weeks past with experimental inquiry nto
the facts and have obtained results which to me Of
sufficient ia porance claim the attention OF the public
The experiments which have been very NUMEROUS were
oondu, ted the laboratory OF The College OF Physicians
end Surgeor and most OF them we're witnessed ~ Dr
1orrev and other distinguished Professors in that lns
tuition they have been repeated 10y my friend and pupil
Mr.. W II. Draper
II bes long been known that metallic e4d placed in con
tact with d.tlled water containing other foreign mat
ter than gHsst absorbed from the atmosphere convert
I'd into drafted oxide at the expense oi the free oxygen
and this oxide dssolves in the water The quantity
which can be held in solution acdOrng to Fresenis
If The latest expenmeners the subject amounts TO
part thousand of water or IN other words 70 seven
rsins IN tie gallon The presence oi such sns quaint
lies Of saline matter exis, in Croon water would not
sensby effect this result though do not wish to convey
the that the CrOtOn water acquires
great degree of contamination from lead pipes But the
Croton water always contains considerable quantity OF
free carbouic acid in whose the oxide OF Lead AZ
carbonate of lead portion Of which is deposited IL
loosely coherng nsouble form on the interior OF the pipe
r remains mechanically suspended IN the water, while the
Other portion is dissolved 10y the excess OF csrbonc sc,
and en- aims in pemaIe.t solution IL is, then, in two
forms that the lead exist in Croon water viz that of
An nsoluble carbonate mechanically suspended aud that
dssov bcaTbORate. Inc first can be separated ~
filter while the latter cannot These compounds are be-
leVed 10 be equally poisonous.
certain length OF time is required Tor the contact Ofhe
lead with the produce any sensible contamination,
and therefore when continuous current is flowing through
pipe OF moderate length danger is to be spprehended
from the use Of the water But such continuous hOw Is
nsdmssibe n practice and in every house in this City
the remains rest daily nighAy long enough IN
The pipes become charged with the metal The practice
a wing the pipes barge themselves OF the water
which has been long rest in them before any is drawn
for is good one, but does not afford entire security
nasmueh slight jar the pipe, even the friction OF
The Of wster may detach portions OF tho loosely
aoleriDg insoluLe carbonate.
To illustrate the foregoing facts, select ewexperi
menfs Of kind which easily be repeated by any one
having the slightest familiarity with chemical manipuia
l. A piece Of Croton water pipe which had been ten
years IN use in house in La fsyeepace was found to
be lined with redrh white substance, which could easily
be removed by the fnger by camel hair pencil
portion dissolved With eervesceuce IN acetic acid The
acid solution treated with supUresd hydrogen ga gave
abundant prec plate 81 suihuT.t ct lead Similar
permeLts with Ike results on dozen or more
pieces pipe which bad been in from Two 10 ten years
portion Of water which had been III rest IN the
pipes ID the Medical College twelve hours, slightly
acicGed BY scstc acid Suphsretied hydrogen gas was
D. % .ltLratlOu' ana iuul1At"As
OF the presence oflead obtained These pipes have
been ID about nine years IL % proper 10 STATE mar
avoid any ascy which ght arise from the acoh 81
the water upon the eal OF the stOpcOcks and wAchmgDt
1--WE sin Jar reaction, the water craRn lr1n small
puLcture made iu the -ipe 20 distance from t- rd,
which should always b. attended % a. hss e1
perIm-It,.
portion Of the water employed in The list expert.
n et was Uttered The filtered liquid treated with aoec
acid and sUpLUrettsd hydrogen showed the presence of
lead II had existed snail presez!y IA the form
Of s0itbte otc0rtDnote-
The filter z-ed in the last experiment thoroughly
ya.hsd with distilled water a IUl5 diluted aorlic acd |
was then paced through which exhibited 20 the pf1Dsr
tes H. pressure ~ lesd This portion Of the lad
existed IN the state Of iasoiubLs carboaot.
portion OF the water which had been abOu. twenty !
four hours At rest 10 The pipe, va boiled fOc tune
green glass flask. hen cold, J. Wa altered The hefed
liquid proved 90 BE- entirely free from lead THE nIer
treated th acefc acd ysl.d lead 70 a. 10 TO-, ,-ii-
rea the act CT boiling bad maRfs.iy expelled ne Us s
Of carbonic acid. the sOiuDs Dicar Donate lad ern
converted INTO the nsolHb.e carbonate.
2. CrotCn water allowed - hOE freely 9r hti
hour ir he service pipe. portion then iese showed
no Indication o. the pesence o. isad even er crlc
tTsng % ~ boiling The pipe then srnils t4Ju- -t1
wooden Illfr and portion o. tle c0sceG Oa
acidfy ng with scetc acid, anol e.tiug with i-ft-i
ycrogen, abundant evidence OF the presence Of lead
obtained.
But must not, Mr Editor tresspsss az this time upon
your columns II another communication, VIII safe 4
additional facts in with III, Get which should
b. regarded One Of vital interest 70 citizens and I'D
point what consider efficient remedy for the ey
have exposed Your obi sery'fs
WmLlAN IT. ELLET.
SEocEISG MURDER At CIxcISSATT TIE 18Th issT.-
man uarned Patrick Cornell attacked IA his own
Frr ~ rfunfsE ann heat