1868. | Chemistry. 81 
nearly all the nitrogen is liberated in the form of gas. Ammonia 
under the same circumstances is completely changed to nitrate, and 
acetamide to nitrate or nitrite. 
The last paper of the evening was also by Professor Wanklyn, 
and entitled “A Verification of Wanklyn, Chapman, and Smith’s 
Water Analysis on a Series of Artificial Waters.” A short account 
of the method of analysis pursued by these gentlemen will be found 
at page 532 of our last volume. The verification consisted in sub- 
mitting pure water containing known amounts of albumen and urea 
to the treatment there described. In the case of albumen, mere 
traces of ammonia were obtained on the distillation with carbonate 
of soda, and only an amount corresponding to two-thirds of the 
nitrogen in the final distillation with caustic potash and perman- 
ganate. In the case of pure urea, little or no ammonia was 
procured on distillation with carbonate of soda, and the addition of 
alkaline permanganate did not induce the evolution of more than 
one-fourth the nitrogen in the form of ammonia. The author stated, 
however, that when urea is present with albumenoid matter, as in a 
natural water, the surrounding impurities start the reaction, and 
much of the ammonia (-37 out of -46) can be obtained by long 
boiling with carbonate of soda. 
At the meeting held on November 21st, Mr. E. T. Chapman 
made a verbal communication “On the Relation between the 
Results of Water Analysis and the Sanitary Value of Water.” He 
said that a drinking water should contain no ammonia. Lime- 
salts he did not consider injurious; and water with nitrates in solu- 
tion, but otherwise pure, he believed to be harmless. But when these 
ingredients were found in a water together, such water favoured the 
development of the lower forms of animal and vegetable life, and 
if kept in a cistern quickly acquired purgative properties. He had 
verified the latter statement by experiments on pigeons, and con- 
firmed the results by experiments on the human system. He 
argued the necessity of observing the relations between the several 
ingredients in a water before pronouncing an opinion upon its 
sanitary value. He also recommended the extended use of Clark’s 
softening process as a means of removing the most objectionable 
forms of organic matter in waters containing carbonate of lime ; 
fully six-sevenths of the nitrogenous matter would be carried down 
with the precipitated carbonate of lime. 
In the course of the discussion Mr. Dugald Campbell stated 
that water containing much nitrate and carbonate of lime was 
astringent rather than purgative; and Dr. Stevenson said he had 
examined water of which cholera patients had partaken, and found 
no organic matter. 
Mr. Spiller mentioned that water softened by Dr. Clark’s 
process did not permit the growth of vegetable organisms; and 
VOL. V. @ 
