81 



Ordinary Meeting, March 18th, 1873. 



J. P. Joule, D.C.L,, LL.D, F.R.S, &c. President, 

 in the Chair. 



Mr. James Cosmo Melvill, M.A., F.L.S., was elected an 

 Ordinary Member of the Society. 



E. W. BiNNEY, F.R.S., Y.P., said that during the last week 

 an interesting controversy had been going on in this city 

 between the Town Clerk and the Professor of Chemistry at 

 the Royal Institution as to the quality of the water supplied 

 to Manchester. These disputants are well able to wage their 

 own warfare, therefore it is not my intention to interfere 

 with them. In these days no one doubts the blessings of a 

 constant supply of pure and good water ; but the latter 

 quality is determined in a great measure by the purpose for 

 which it is intended to be used. If for manufacturing and 

 washing then a pure soft water is no doubt most desirable, 

 but it is very questionable if such a water when conveyed 

 any considerable distance in leaden pipes is the best for the 

 drinking purposes of a town population. 



In the Report of the Commissioners for Inquiring into the 

 State of Large Towns and Populous Districts, Dr. Lyon 

 Playfair, the Commissioner who reported on the then supply 

 of Manchester appears to have directed little attention to 

 the quality of drinking water for a town population which 

 had to a great extent left off using the milk, porridge, brown 

 bread, and oatcake of our forefathers, and resorted to sloppy 

 tea, white bread, butter, and a little meat, for at page 411 

 of his Repoi-t he says : — " In considering the best means for 

 the extension of this benefit," alluding to a constant supply 

 " to the working classes, or in sanctioning the formation of 

 new waterworks, it would be highly advisable to obtain 

 Peoceedings— Lit. & Phil. Society.— Yol. XII.— Xo. 9.— Session 1872-3. 



