1902.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT -—No. 33. 151 



necessary to refuse water samples during the months of 

 November and December of the present year. Again, 

 many persons had only an imperfect understanding of the 

 method of taking and shipping a sample ; consequently, 

 the water was often received in improper condition, render- 

 ing the results of very questionable value. At present, a 

 clean, glass-stoppered bottle is shipped the applicant, to- 

 gether with full instructions. The chemist, therefore, feels 

 reasonably sure that the sample under examination is a fair 

 one, and the results obtained are of a more positive char- 

 acter. 



Samples are received not only from farmers, but from 

 persons following various trades and professions. They 

 are practically all from wells, springs and ponds in towns 

 and villages not having a public water supply. Many are 

 of fair quality, others quite suspicious, w r hile some are 

 entirely unfit for use. Some samples have been found to 

 contain lead, due to the use of lead pipe. Drinking water 

 thus polluted results in serious cases of lead poisoning, as 

 many persons have found, to their sorrow. All parties are 

 cautioned never to use lead pipe to conduct water intended for 

 drinking or cooking purposes. It is not considered necessary 

 to publish the results of the various analyses made, as they 

 convey no particular information that could be of general 

 interest. 



(b) Dairy Products and Feed Stuffs. — More than the 

 usual number of samples of milk and cream have been re- 

 ceived during the past year. They were sent largely for 

 the purpose of determining the amount of butter fat they 

 contained. Some farmers are desirous of knowing the 

 quality of milk produced by their animals, while others, 

 who sell cream to the different creameries, wish to ascertain 

 how closely the station tests agree with those made by the 

 local creamery. Quite frequently samples of milk are re- 

 ceived from milkmen whose product has been found to be 

 below the standard by the inspector or milk contractor. 

 In such cases the determination of both total solids and fat 

 is made. The results of all analyses are returned within 

 a few days, together with as full information as possible. 



