REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 175 



the addition of this insecticide should not in any way affect the usefulness of the fun<n- 

 cide. 



Such a combined insecticide and fungicide, though exceedingly useful in the early 

 part of the season, could not be used with safety on maturing fruit, since, the Bordeaux 

 mixture being adhesive, the Paris green might not be detached or swept away by the 

 wind or rain before the fruit is gathered. 



Ammoniacal copper carbonate with Paris green was next tried, the insecticide 

 being added after the full dilution to 50 gallons. Since Paris green is readily soluble 

 in strong ammonia, it was scarcely expected that it would remain entirely insoluble 

 in the solution. 



The formula used was as follows : — 



Copper carbonate 5 ounces. 



Ammonia— strong . . 2 quarts. 



1 Water 50 gallons. 



Pans green .., 4 ounces. 



After two days, a trace of arsenic was found in solution, which at the expiration of 

 ten days had increased to heavy traces. No appreciable amount, however, had been 

 dissolved. 



WELL WATERS. 



The knowledge of the fact that pure water is indispensable for the preservation of 

 good health, is now public property, thanks to the medical profession, our text books 

 on hygiene and the press. Notwithstanding, we find many otherwise intelligent and 

 thoughtful people, totally, and we may say criminally, disregarding this matter of vital 

 importance to themselves and their families. 



Many outbreaks of typhoid fever, diphtheria and other zymotic diseases, have been 

 directly traced to the use of a polluted water supply. It is chiefly by the means of im- 

 pure water that the germs of these diseases are spread throughout a community. Evi- 

 dence to prove this can be furnished by all physicians and sanitarians. Indeed we have 

 testimony from our own data. In not a few instances where illness and death occurred 

 from typhoid fever and diphtheria, the water supply, on analysis, was found to be 

 seriously contaminated with drainage or soakage of a pernicious character. 



If forewarned is forearmed, it is hoped that the dissemination of knowledge on 

 this matter will lead to a better condition of rural water supplies. 



The purest water undoubtedly is to be found in the country, for it is there the 

 natural conditions prevail for its occurrence. There should be but little difficulty on 

 the greater number of Canadian farms in obtaining an unpolluted supply. But, un- 

 fortunately, wells are often, for the sake of convenience, sunk in the barn-yard, the 

 stable or kitchen. Or they may be dangerously near the privy, pig-pen or other pol- 

 luting source. The natural result is that the well acts as a cesspit or that excremen- 

 titious and waste matter finds its way into the well. It is not unusual to find the well 

 immediately in the rear of the house, the surrounding soil affording a temporary resting 

 place for the kitchen slops, for which no drain has been provided. Implicit confidence 

 is often placed in the impervious character of a clay soil : such, however, becomes in 

 time saturated with filth and pollutes the water which passes through it. 



We have examined, during the past six years, a large number samples of water 

 from wells on Canadian farms. This useful work has been continued, and the analyses 

 of fifty waters made in 1894 are now given in tabular form. 



