WHAT TO USE FOR WATER-PIPES. 141 



venters, unacquainted with the electro-chemical 

 relationship of metals, would seize hold of it as a 

 most important discovery. They would not know 

 that tin by itself is often more readily attacked and 

 dissolved by water than lead, and that, when placed 

 in association with lead, if any water contact is made 

 between the tin and lead, both metals are dissolved 

 with increased rapidity. We have heretofore unre- 

 servedly expressed our dissatisfaction with this pipe ; 

 and our views are supported by some practical sci- 

 entific men, whose opinions are certainly worth 

 more than those of a whole army of gentlemen who 

 devote their lives simply to performing illustrative 

 chemical experiments before classes in colleges. 

 Besides this, we have had opportunity of examining 

 specimens of the pipe which have been used for dif- 

 ferent periods of time, and have found results which 

 fully confirmed our opinions. In regard to this 

 pipe we do not assert that in every case, or in a 

 majority of cases where it is used, it is positively 

 dangerous. If the pipe is perfectly covered with 

 tin throughout its entire surface, and if it is placed 

 in contact with the waters of such wells or aque- 

 ducts as do not readily act upon tin, it will serve a 

 good purpose for many years. What housekeepers 

 require in a water-pipe is not one which may become 

 dangerous under conditions liable to occur, but one 

 which is safe under all possible conditions. The 

 tin-lined lead pipe is not of this character. 



