78 



REPORT — 1855. 



the Loch Ness water. The average mortality of the town for the four years 

 preceding the introduction of the lake water was S^'S per 1000, and for the 

 four years subsequently the average deaths were only 23 "5 per 1000. Ex- 

 cept the new supply of water, there was no apparent cause for this amelio- 

 ration. These cases clearly demonstrate the great benefit which results from 

 the supply of eminently pure water, even though it should be delivered to 

 the inhabitants through leaden pipes and cisterns. Any objection, however, 

 on this score does not apply to the water, but to the means of its distribution, 

 and the evil, if any, can be obviated in various ways. 



There are still many points of much interest connected with the supply of 

 water, and the sources from which it should be obtained, apart from all 

 engineering and mechanical details, which have not as yet been touched 

 upon ; but their investigation would occupy considerable time, and they must 

 be reserved for future consideration. 



Fifteenth Report of a Committee, consisting of Professor Daubeny, 

 Professor Henslow, and Professor Lindley, appointed to con- 

 tinue their Experiments on the Growth and Vitality of Seeds. 



These experiments have been continued under circumstances similar to 

 those of preceding years, and the results are registered in the annexed 

 Table. 



