ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1873. 35 



what the system of weights and measures may be in any other conn- 

 try, the decimal system is the same in all. The general tendency of 

 our times is towards simplicity and international uniformity, espec- 

 ially in coinage, weights and measures, and hence the adoption of the 

 decimal system should be encouraged in all proper ways. 



Many of these waters, as well as many others not included in the 

 table, are now known from the best of all tests, actual experience, to 

 possess valuable remedial qualities, and they are annually resorted to 

 by great numbers of invalids, who, with judicious treatment, are al- 

 most always benefited. 



These analyses were all made by Mr. Bode, except No. 1, Kich- 

 mond's, at Whitewater, made in 1873, by Dr. J. E. Garner, of Mil- 

 waukee, and No. 6, the Oakton Spring, at Pewaukee, made in 1872, 

 by Dr. J. Y. Z. Blaney, of Chicago. 



Comparing these results with the analyses of other mineral waters, 

 we are at once impressed with the small amount of mineral matter 

 our waters are found to contain, only four having more than one part 

 in one thousand; the average of twenty-two (No. 3 being omitted as 

 exceptional) showing a mean of 0.657, or about two-thirds of one part 

 only, in one thousand. 



The slightest inspection of the table will show that the carbonates 

 of lime and magnesia constitute the most prominent and important 

 ingredients of these waters. These, with the carbonate of soda, pres- 

 ent in many of them, bring the mineral waters of the state into the 

 class of alkaline waters, and they are arranged in the table in accord- 

 ance with the relative quantity of these salts, those having the most 

 being placed before those having less. The average in the whole 

 number (twenty- three) is 0.365, or a little more than one-third of one 

 part in a thousand, and more than half of the total average total quan- 

 tity of solid matter in these waters. 



The purgative salts (sulphates of soda and magnesia) are found 

 only in very small quantities, except in one case; the mean of nine- 

 teen waters (No. 5 omitted) being only 0.023. 



Of the twenty-three waters, ten only, or less than half, contain 

 iron, varying from 0.001 to 0.012, the mean being 0.006. This quan- 

 tity, though apparently so small, seems to have very useful medicinal 

 effects, and it suffices to discolor objects over which the waters run. 

 Iron rust is deposited so freely from the waters of the several artesian 

 wells at Sparta, that they are not used for cooking or for washing' 

 purposes. 



RAIN-FALL. It is solely to the clouds that we are indebted for the 

 supply of water, in the form of rain, hail and snow, to all our lakes, 



