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There was before them a sample of water, taken fi-om a well, 

 to which, for drinking purposes, he should greatly object. There 

 were in it forms of life of the kind invariably found in water into 

 which some organic substance, or, in other words, sewage matter, 

 was filti'ating. That being so, and if sewage matter were there, 

 he should not be surprised if, at some time or another, infectious 

 disease broke out in the neighbourhood in which the water was 

 consumed. 



Certain forms of animal life were always to be found where 

 the water was contaminated with sewage matter; in such cases 

 there was always danger ; and, consequently, important lessons 

 were always to be drawn from examining the forms which the 

 water contained. In reference to the water supplied by the Cor- 

 poration of Brighton, there were circumstances connected with it 

 which rendered it virtually impossible for it to contain organic life. 

 It was brought up at such a depth from the chalk that, if examined 

 microscopically when taken from the main, not a trace of organic 

 life could be observed in it. 



The President : Yes ; and do not forgot the fact that all the 

 reservoirs have been covered over. 



Mr. WoNFOE : And, besides, it remained such a short time 

 in the reservoirs after it had been brought up from the chalk. 

 Examination had proved that the Brighton water was invariably 

 free from any trace of organic impurity. 



The Peesident : Then you prefer the constant sei'vice to 

 intermittent ? 



Mr. WoNEOR replied that he had the constant service at his 

 own house ; and, in continuing, said if all could have their drinking 

 water drawn direct from the main they would avoid the risk of 

 having animal life introduced, by water standing in a cistern exposed 

 more or less to the atmosphere. There were, however, certain 

 forms of life in pure water which rendered it drinkable. For 

 instance, the American weed, anacharis, having been thrown into 

 water at Ditchling, never before drinkable, that water afterwards 

 became pure and palatable, and was eagerly sought by those 

 persons living in the neighbourhood. 



