The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-07

g'asance from Abe canal. and the surface
drains do not bear the whole stagnant con-
tents into the canal. but only the overflow.
Dy. Tompkins stated that there was an
old ditch near the philadelphia quarry IN
which dead horses and COWS were thrown.
and that the contents OF the ditch finally
s@und liz way TO the canal. There 10 one
Known instance when q horse fell In the
ditch and was killed or fell and was thrown
into the ditch. which wss reported 10 me,
and had the horse buried IN neld near
by soon after it happened. d,
Not single examination OF the waters OF
these streams WAS made 70 ascertain
whether they were filed with sewage and
thoroughly polluted or whether tnsy were
The Council Committee on Water had
had each one carefully examined and ana
lived and that report - on ME IN the
Council chamber DR.. Mcclure says FUR.
,bar tbat the canal semi-stagnant
stream COR nine miles The whole distance
from the pump-house 70 the river apoye
Bosher's dam along the canal ABOUT
seven miles, and the Veioe,y vi he
ourrent il about milo and nalI an houI,
and the quantity OF water heaif
the river flow. ...s
Can this be called semi-stagnant stream
DR.. Mcclure says II think IL very pIopa-
BILE that one case of diphtheria az O DAIRY
farm ON tbe TuckahOe creek last fall caused
the malignant epidemic of diphtheria that
we had then" DR.. Mcclure does not state
whether this particular case OF aiphIneria
happened prior to the epidemic tha' Ingeu
in Richmond OF not. II would be well 10
know that fact. 49,,
The diphtheria was prevalent in Ashland,
in the counties Of Goochland, Chesterfield,
Hanover. Albemarle and some others. was
the diphtheria which prevailed at THESE
places also trsceable TO the drinking water
of Richmond. ell proceeding from the one
case on the Tuckahoe creek There are
several other statements which lr. Nc
CURE makes which properly belong 10
medical science, which l do not propose to
discuss. but there Is one, namely. com
parative analysis made by Professor Mallet
of the University of Virginia last October.
of the hydrant water we drink and the well
water from DIR. Mc0uire's home on the
Brook road. The sample OF well water WAS
taken by Colonel Cutshaw, and Professor
Mallet was in entire ignorance OF what
either of these waters were or where they
came from. ] herewith give Professor NAL
let's analysis and his letter on the subject
In the article in Sundays TINS, DIR. Nc
Guire asked Professor Mallettw questions.
"Can YOU tell from chemical analysis
of water only whether IL is pure or notY'
2. Can you tell from analysis of water
whether it is infected with poisonous germs.
such as those Of diphtheria, typhoid fever,
&c.W
Professor Mallet's answer Is given in full
Ia Sundays TDfEs. The postscript to his
letter says: In case you do not find my
quotation sufficiently direct and Categorical
in answer to your questions / Will simply
say No to each Of them"
See Professor Mallets report and letter
October 81, 1891.
UNIVERSITY or VIRGINIA,
October 81. 1891.
Charles t. Boiling, ESQ, superintendent
City Water Works, Richmond Va:
Dear Sir.- by working q good deal at
night have pressed forward as much as
possible the examination of the two samples
Of water sent me by you. and am now able
20 send you the results, as given in the re-
port herewith enclose. No. seems 70 be
Of very fair character. but the results for
No. as TO total solids, chlorine. free am
moRis. and especially nitrites andlnitrates,
show this to be OF totally different nature,
and class IL among waters of highly suspl-
cious character. l shall be glad TO learn
from You what ia the history of each Of
these samples. / can then Judge whether
any Of the determinations now reported on
ought TO be repeated on the spot without al
lowing time for the continuance OF nitrihca-
ton or other processes Of change. j enclose
my bill for the services rendered. which
please have acted upon at your convenience.
shall be glad to know that this letter and
its enclosure safely reach you.
! am dear sir, very respectfully, your
servant j. w. MMLRT.
Doses of two samples of water from Richmond,
INT City Water Works, October 81, 1891.
KS
flee Of City Water Works. Richmond Va, Oc-
Ice - wal IT ia aafI IN
Engineer, October 81, 1Sql
@ \. BOLIINH Sunerintendent