470 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ing from sinks, privies, cesspools or barnyards, when ap- 

 parent conditions would seem to render it impossible. 



Much has been written on this subject, yet the necessity 

 for constant warning still remains. No better illustration is 

 needed than the analyses of the samples given below, which 

 were taken, almost at random, in various parts of the State. 

 These analyses have been made according to Wancklyn's 

 process, familiar to chemists, and are directed toward the 

 indication of the presence of chlorine, free and albuminoid 

 ammonia, and the poisonous metals. (For a more detailed 

 description of this method, see Water Analysis, by J. A. 

 Wancklyn and E. T. Chapman. ) 



The hardness was determined by Frankland's method. 

 (See Frankland's Water Analysis, page 29.) 



The presence of chlorine indicates contamination from 

 sinks, privies or sewers, since it occurs abundantly in urin- 

 ary secretions ; but it may be derived from other and less 

 harmful sources, as saline waters, which the test fails to in- 

 dicate. One conclusion is, however, safe : a water which 

 contains no chlorine is uncontaminated by sewerage. 

 ' ' Free " and ' ' albuminoid " ammonia are the forms in which 

 organic matter is recognized. Ammonia, existing as such 

 in water, is termed " free." This being expelled l)y distilla- 

 tion, the nitrogen containino; organic matter remainins' is 

 reduced to ammonia by chemical agencies, and this second- 

 ary product is called " albuminoid ammonia." 



The per cent, of total solids is obtained by evaporating a 

 known quantity of the sample to dryness and weighing the 

 residue. 



Hardness, a rather ar])itrary term, signifies that quality of 

 water Avhich prevents the ready formation of lather with 

 soap. It is usually due to the presence of salts of lime or 

 magnesia, which decompose the soap, forming new insoluble 

 compounds. As long as these reactions occur no lather will 

 be formed, consequently the quantity of a standard soap 

 consumed before a permanent lather is obtained, indicates 

 the amount of earthy salts contained in the sample, or its 

 relative degree of hardness. Frankland's scale has been 

 changed to Clark's, the latter being a more popular one. 



