168 



Professor G. V. Poore 



[April 24, 



fihowed this well to a party of scientific friends, some of them dropped 

 a hint that it had possibly been scrubbed in honour of their visit. 

 This, however, was not the case. 



The water from this well has been examined three times chemi- 

 cally, with the result that it has been pronounced free from organic 

 impurities, and three bacteriological examinations have been made 



with the result of showing a bacterial 

 purity, which is quite exceptional. 

 The last examination was made by 

 Dr. Cartwright Wood in November, 

 1895, and showed a very high degree 

 of bacterial purity. The water was 

 specially examined by Dr. Wood for 

 the presence of Bacterium Coli com- 

 mune, but with negative results. 

 Dr. Wood writes : " The results are 

 exceedingly satisfactory, and I must 

 admit surprised me very much." A 

 surface-well on this pattern has 

 lately been constructed in a neigh- 

 bouring village, and the results, as 

 far as the appearance of the well 

 and water are concerned, seem to bo 

 entirely satisfactory. 



Fig. 2. 



Plan of well, showing its relation 

 to paths and hedge. 



Fig. 3. 



Section of well, showing concrete 

 lining and position of pump. 



When people live crowded to- 

 gether in cities, the difficulties con- 

 nected with the cleaning of the 

 houses is very great. After the in- 

 vention of the steam-engine it was 

 found possible to supply even the 

 top floors of the highest houses with 

 an ample supply of water. We ac- 

 cordingly abolished the scavenger, 

 and adopted a complete system of water-carried sewage. In this way 

 our houses have been cleansed, and our rivers and surface-wells have 

 been fouled, and it is difficult to say whether at 2)resent there be a 

 balance of advantage or disadvantage. We have had epidemics of 

 cholera and of typhoid, and it is almost certain that there is no 

 one here present but has suffered in some way or another from the 

 " drains." 



The greatest drawback of this system is the fact that it 

 encourages overcrowding of houses on inadequate areas, and, un- 

 fortunately, it is this fact which has rendered the system so popular. 

 With water under pressure there is no need to provide houses with 

 any back-door or back-yard, and there is no inconvenience in having 

 excessively high buildings. The speculative builder, who has been 

 relieved of all responsibilities in connection with sewage and water 



