Mr J. Hunter on Water Supply of Villages. 339 



which I may advantageously now quote, in order to show to 

 what dangers water drinkers are exposed. This essay, which 

 had for its title " Pollution of Eivers," gives in detail tlie 

 different kinds of pollution to which our rivers are liable, 

 and also the various methods adopted or suggested for the 

 prevention of pollution. It is beyond the scope of these 

 notes to refer to this essay upon any other point than tliat 

 which treats of the impurities introduced at the higher levels, 

 because it is rare that a burn or river that has run any very 

 great distance is employed for primary purjDoses. After 

 pointing out the disgusting practices of farmers, in disposing 

 of their cases of splenic apoplexy, louping ill, sturdy, etc., I 

 go on to remark : 



"... In like manner hill farmers contribute not a little to 

 the pollution of streams, by exercising all the carelessness their 

 ingenuity is capable of during the seasons of ' dipping * and 

 of * washing.' It is only a few years ago that evidence was 

 led in the Court of Session, which proved that, as the result 

 of ' dipping ' and subsequent washing of sheep in feeders of 

 Loch Eutton, the presence of the poisonous metal arsenic 

 was easily demonstrable. The polluters were, of course, very 

 indignant, and, among other pleas, advanced that of pre- 

 scriptive right ! — a prescriptive right to pour annually many 

 pounds weight of arsenic into the internal economy of the 

 unsuspecting inhabitants of Dumfries ! ! 



" Such conduct is without excuse, the more so when we 

 know that for * dipping ' purposes an insoluble compound of 

 arsenic is used, which could most certainly be prevented 

 finding its way into the feeders of the loch by an easily 

 devisable system of filtration. No doubt the process would 

 involve a little trouble, but that is all. 



" Perhaps the most to be dreaded of all pollutions is that 

 from fever-stricken inhabitants of the high lands. It is well 

 known now that fever germs are, like many other of the 

 lower organisms, most persistent ; we know also, how awful 

 are the results of carelessness at the period of desquamation ; 

 yet we are only too well aware of the utter disregard for 

 other people practised by the class of individuals referred to. 

 Bed and body clothes are washed, and the washiness trickle 



