THE SPEY 151 



chemically, liable to rapid putrefaction and the evolution of great 

 quantities of lactic acid through the growth of a specially luxuriant 

 fungus. This " pot ale " is about fifty times as poisonous as the 

 most gross and complex sewage of such a city as Manchester. The 

 redistillation of " low wine " results in whisky, with " spent lees " as 

 a bye-product, a substance which, compared with pot ale, is com- 

 paratively harmless. 



It is true, I suppose, that the industry of whisky-distilling does 

 not now nourish as it did, that there has been overproduction, and 

 that some of the distilleries in Strathspey, especially in view also of 

 the recent high price of grain and coal, have become practically idle; 

 but it is clear that a little pot ale goes a long way. 



The matter has received great attention from the proprietors, and 

 the famous Macallan Case the Countess Dowager of Seafield v. 

 Eoderick Kemp which was won in the Outer House, and appealed, 

 resulted in interdict being granted against the polluters. In the 

 Outer House Lord Kyllachy held that pollution had been proved, 

 and found that the evidence led was insufficient to show that the 

 pursuers were adequately secured by the remedial works of the 

 defender. Time was, however, granted to further test the remedial 

 work in an attempt to satisfactorily purify the effluents. The First 

 Division, after a most extensive proof, adhered to this judgment, 

 and, resulting from this, various other distillers have from time to 

 time been proceeded against. 



Pot ale has been dealt with in a great variety of ways in order to 

 secure adequate purification or destruction, but it has proved a very 

 puzzling fluid to deal with. The distillers offered a large reward to 

 any one who would discover a satisfactory plan of dealing with the 

 bye-product ; but this reward has not been secured, so far as I am 

 aware, although expensive plant has been erected at various 

 distilleries. Only very imperfect methods, so far as I have been 

 able to understand, have resulted from these numerous investiga- 

 tions. 



From a separate source altogether has come the demonstration of 

 a quite satisfactory method. The Koyal Commission on Sewage 

 Disposal, under the chairmanship of Lord Iddesleigh, found it neces- 

 sary to institute a thorough series of investigations into the chemistry 

 and bacteriology of the pollution of rivers. Every kind of pollution 

 was taken up and studied, and amongst others a series of experi- 

 ments were started at various Strathspey distilleries. Dr. M'Gowan, 

 the chief chemist to the Commission, is, I believe, the one who, more 



