112 J. HOPKINSON — RELATIVE ADVANTAGES 



or not Mr. Homersliaai may be correct as to the cause of the 

 immunity of softened water from such organic vitiation, its 

 beautiful light blue tint, as seen in the softening-tanks at the 

 Colne Valley Waterworks, bears witness to its extreme purity. 



The only advantages which I can find in a hard-water supply are 

 the certain immunity from lead-poisoning, and the sparkling nature 

 of the water, which renders it, to some, more pleasant to the taste 

 than is a softened water, or a naturally soft water. 



The action of soft water upon lead has been fully investigated, 

 especially in the exhaustive enquiry wliich was made preparatory 

 to the introduction into Glasgow of the soft water of Loch Katrine, 

 when the only cases of lead-poisoning which were found to have 

 occurred in any town supplied with soft water were traced to the 

 action of the lead contained in paint upon plumbers and house- 

 painters. It was also elicited that the water of Loch Katrine, 

 which is about as soft as it is possible for any natural water to be, 

 having a hardness of less than one degree, although having a decided 

 action upon bright lead when taken direct from the lake, after 

 it has run some distance has no action whatever upon leaden pipes, 

 and this was found to be the case upon its introduction into Glasgow. 

 Cases of lead -poisoning from very soft water of a slightly acidulous 

 composition, have, however, occurred in the !North of England, but 

 as it is only proposed to reduce the hardness of the Watford water 

 to about 6 degrees, there need be no fear of lead-poisoning when it 

 does not occur with the very pure water of less than one degree 

 of hardness obtained from Loch Katrine. 



The taste of the water is a matter upon which opinions differ. 

 From habit we usually prefer the water to which we are accustomed, 

 but I think that to make softened water palatable to all it is only 

 necessary to ensure its thorough aeration. 



The title of this paper may appear to be somewhat misleading in 

 view of the conclusion at which I have arrived that the advantages 

 are all in favour of soit water, with the reservation that although 

 the balance of evidence and the consensus of opinion of those best 

 qualified to judge are in favoiir of the dietetic superiority of soft 

 water over hard water, such superiority cannot be absolutely 

 proved. I prefer, however, to leave the first part of the title as 

 announced in our circular before the writing of the paper was 

 commenced, when I thought that something might be said in 

 favour of hard water and that there would not be so much to say 

 in favour of soft water. In the case of Watford the only possible 

 objection to softening the water that could be urged is the cost, 

 and although that would probably be saved ten times over in the 

 use of the water, most people would rather incur an indirect ex- 

 penditure of half a sovereign, if not very patent to them, than be 

 directly taxed a shilling. The poorer classes would benefit the 

 most, for their water-rate is very much less in proportion to the 

 quantity of water they use than is the rate charged to those who 

 live in highly-rented houses. 



