METEOROLOGY WATER. 119 



Changes in drinking water due to the metal of the distributing conduits, 

 O. Ferkier (Rev. Sci. [Paris], 7/7 (1909), II, No. 8, p. 21,8).— li is shown that 

 water coutaiuing a small amount of mineral matter more readily attacks lead 

 and iron pipes than that containing a large amount of mineral matter, and it is 

 proposed to overcome the danger from this source by adding a small amount 

 of lime to the water. 



The Yallahs smell, S. F. Ashby {Bui. Dept. Agr. Jamaica, n. ser., 1 {1909), 

 Nos. 1, pp. Ji2, J,.3; 2, pp. 73-92, pis. 3). — Chemical and bacteriological studies 

 of the waters and muds of the Yallahs salt ponds near Kingston, Jamaica, 

 are reported, showing that the offensive odor of these ponds is due mainly to 

 hydrogen sulphid produced by Mlcrospira wstuarii. 



Regulations regarding potable waters (Rev. Sri. [Paris], J/7 (1909), II, No. 

 16, p. 50.'i). — The regulations promulgated by the government of France with 

 regard to the potable waters to be used in the mariue service are given. 



Are present day standards of analysis reliable as a guide to the wholesome- 

 ness of drinking water? C. J. li. McLean (Jour. Roy. Sanit. Inst., 30 (1909), 

 No. 9, p. 39 'i).- — It is pointed out that "there is seldom any connection between 

 the purity or impurity of water supplies in rural or small urban districts and 

 the existence or prevalence of typhoid fever," and it is held that " absence of 

 typhoid fever in the rural and small urban districts, with impure or polluted 

 water (according to modern standards), is a proof of the nonreliability of such 

 standards." 



New bacteriological standard for water analyses, T. A. Starkey (Jour. Ron. 

 Sanit. Inst., 30 (1909), No. 9, pp. 391, 3.9,2).— The author proposes the 

 " labyrinth " or *' zig-zag " method for isolating members of the colon-typhoid 

 family, and believes that " if representatives of the colon-typhoid group beyond 

 about the mid-point toward the typhoid end are present, then the water is 

 actually dangerous; it matters not in what quantity of water they are found." 



Investigations on the permeability of soils for bacteria, F. Ditthorn and 

 A. LuERSSEN (Gsndhts. Ingcn., 32 (1909), No. >,l, pp. 6S1-6SG, figs. 2).— This 

 is a study of the efficiency of soil filtration as a means of purifying water. 



Fundamental principles of sewage purification on land, R. Hering (Engin. 

 Ncivs, 61 (1909), Nos. IS, pp. J,93-.',96; 21, pp. 583-586; 22, pp. 605, 606).— 

 Conclusions based chiefly u])on results of inspection of European works, but 

 also on observations on works in this country, are summarized and the relation 

 of the different factors involved in sewage purification is reduced to an equa- 

 tion — p=b a t, in which 6 is the bacterial surface in square feet, a the air 

 supply in cubic feet per day, and t the time in minutes. These A'ary directly 

 with the number of persons furnishing the sewage. 



Standards of purification for sewage effluents, J. T. Thompson (Jour. Roy. 

 Sanit. Inst., 30 (1909), No. 9, pp. 1,07, //08).— The general principles and the 

 adaptations to local conditions are discussed. 



Organic colloid substances in sewage waters, E. Rolants (Rev. Hyg. et Pol. 

 Sanit., 31 (1909), No. 8, pp. 775-78-'/). — The investigations reported indicate that 

 there was an increase of the proportion of colloid substances to total oxidizable 

 matter in the septic tank but a decrease on the bacterial beds. The proportion 

 of organic nitrogen to organic carbon in the colloid substances decreased in the 

 septic tank and in the passage through the bacterial beds. 



A brief bibliography of literature relating to this subject is apppended. 



Sewage sludge disposal at Brockton, Mass. (Engin. Netcs, 62 (1909), No. 10, 

 p. 251, fig. 1). — A brief accoiuit is given of the use of manure spreaders for the 

 handling of the sludge and of the history of sludge disposal at Brockton since 

 the works were started 15 years ago. The sludge is given to farmers in the 



