NOTITIA VENATICA. 59 



pure the water tlic larger the quantity of carbonic acid gas is contained in 

 it, giving it a greater susceptibility for any impurity from the surface 

 over which it has to pass, and a capabihty for certain chemical actions 

 on different substances, forming what is technically called a salt of the 

 metal Avith which it may be brought in contact ; and yet we find in use, 

 for general purposes, this very application, in the ibrm of lead pipes, 

 tanks, cisterns, &c., either as a means of conveying water from the supply 

 to our own locale, or as a reservoir for our domestic purposes, a pl-actice 

 which cannot be too much deprecated ; the action is this : — The car- 

 bonic acid in the water enters into combination with the lead, and forms 

 a salt called carbonate of lead, Avhich in itself is a poisonous compound, 

 and in all human pi-obability is the cause of many of the ailments which 

 ' our flesh is heir to.' " 



It was the opinion of Professor Ryan, and consequently of many others 

 who had interested themselves about the matter, that the presence of 

 the lead in the water was the cause of the malady ; and he goes on to 

 say that ' ' there are strong grounds for presuming that the disease called 

 ' kennel-lameness' in sporting phraseology, and which now rages 

 amongst the hounds in the royal kennels, is caused by the quantity of 

 lead taken into the stomachs of the poor animals." For the gratifica- 

 tion of the scientific, we have procured an analysis of the water before 

 named, and it runs thus : — 



Dated Feb. 3, 1843. 



From the spring head we found the specific gravity at 60 deg. to be 1.000-18. 

 The imperial pint on evaporation to dryness yielded 2.37 grains of solid matter. 



The solid contents of an imperial pint are Chloride of sodium 1*54 grs. 



Magnesium 071 



Sulphate of lime 0-128 



2.378 



Excess in course of analysis "008 



Signed, John Ryan, M.D,, LL.D., &c. &c. 



After it had passed the pipes and in the kitchen of the kennel, the specific gravity 

 was 1.000-42. 



An imperial pint evaporated to dryness yielded 2 grains of solid matter. 

 The imperial gallon contains 1.312 grains of carbonate of lead. 

 An imperial pint contained — 



Carbonate of lead • • • • -164 grs. 



Organic matter and traces of chlorides of sodium and magnesium, 



and sulphate of lime 038 



.202 



Excess in analysis .002 



Signed as before. 



Pursuing their plans still further, some water was drawn from the 

 pipe which supplies Mr. Davis's kitchen ; this was merely tested, not 

 enough having been obtained for an analysis, and the appearance of 

 lead was abundant. A certificate was given, which runs as follows : — 



