24 
which may have been produced by the oxydation of the Nitrogen 
in the organic matter, and of Phosphoric Acid, are valuable data. 
The appearance of the water, when viewed through a thickness 
of two feet, is most important, as giving us an insight into the 
origin of the organic matter. Ifthe water has a peaty colour, we 
judge that the organic matter is, in great measure, due to dissolved 
peat ; if the colour is yellow, the organic matter must be viewed 
with suspicion. 
The smell of the water, when warmed and shaken up, is also 
often a valuable guide ; and the microscopical examination of the 
deposits of the utmost importance. 
These data, along with the total solid matter, and hardness, 
before and after boiling, complete our analysis. 
You will notice, on reference to the Table (pp. 28, 29), that two 
samples of the Whitehaven water have been analysed. These 
samples were collected by myself at an interval of a month. The 
rest of the samples were collected, by various gentleman, on the 
dates named, and according to written instructions. 
Now a glance at the Table, by any one acquainted with water 
analysis, would be sufficient to enable him to come to the con- 
clusion that the waters, on the whole, are remarkably pure. 
The “total solid matter” in five of the samples is only about 
two grains in the gallon; and in none does it reach five grains. 
This is due to the absence of lime in the substrata of the various 
gathering grounds. And, for a like reason, the “hardness” is in 
many cases below one degree, and permanent in all. 
Coming now to the other end of the Table, we find only one of 
the samples possessed any smell, namely, the Millom water. 
When viewed through a two-foot tube, all the waters appeared 
clear, and satisfactory, with the exception of those from Maryport 
and Millom, which were very turbid, and of a yellowish colour. 
The colours of the Keswick and Arlecdon waters were almost 
identical with that of pure distilled water. The Whitehaven water 
was a little more green ; and the Cleator Moor water, more green 
still. The Chlorine was, in all cases, small in amount, being the 
highest in the samples from Millom and Cleator Moor ; but in no 
