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this simple experiment other than the odorous body on the one 

 hand, and the odorless water on the other, it becomes a crucial 

 experiment. The suggestion leading to it, was the simple one 

 which arises in every analytical experiment. Pursuing this 

 experiment further, we have found that the odorous matter thus 

 separated from the water, is almost wholly made up of the bodies 

 of living and dead crustaceans, filled with oil, having the odor 

 of fresh water fish. In repeating this experiment, it is essential 

 that the crustaceans be collected without exposure to violence, 

 and failure to obtain a like result may be referred to a want of 

 attention in this particular. The experiment was many times 

 repeated by us before it was stated, and it has since become an 

 established truth. When, therefore, we find the statement, "I 

 could not produce the peculiar smell and taste when I mingled a 

 large number of living and dead crustaceans in pure, distilled 

 water," we think that very few living crustaceans could have been 

 present, and that the matter was taken after its odor had passed 

 away, which readily occurs. The point that " the minute quan- 

 tity of oil which these crustaceans contain, is not a sufficient 

 cause for the flavoring of the great quantity of the water," .was 

 early entertained by ourselves, and it was only after a suite of 

 experiments, demonstrating the adequacy of the cause, and after 

 careful search had failed to show other influences, that we 

 accepted the results as a fact in science. Thus determined, it 

 cannot be assailed by argument or supposition, and an objection 

 becomes valid, only after it has been shown that the crustaceans, 

 containing oil^ do not give odor and taste to the water. 



Dr. Jackson, after investigating, arrived at the conclusion that 

 the " wax and vegetable oil came from fermenting foliage." " It 

 is prohahle, therefore, that we may be able to trace the peculiar 

 taste of Cochituate water to some such source." In the first 

 part of Dr. Jackson's paper, we find the expression of his pres- 

 ent belief, " that the taste and odor of Cochituate water " " are 

 due to decomposing vegetable matters, such as the mucilage and 

 albuminous matters of plants, as indicated by the presence of 

 the associated chlorophyl and myrica wax and" oil contained in 

 it." As the statement is also made, that " from careful analysis 

 and researches made by myself, I am convinced," we will look 



