54:4 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



the air contained in the water, rather tliaii to the water itself, is due the 

 oxydation of lead, we now would see how far this action is retarded by im- 

 purities or saline matter in solution. If a sulphate or chloride were pre- 

 sent, the corresponding sulphate of lead or chhn-ide of lead, would be form- 

 ed, which, as already stated, would, in a measure, be a protection to further 

 oxydation. But it will not do to flatter ourselves that by increasing the 

 .impurities we lessen the danger, as the presence of organic matter in large 

 quantities will vastly increase the action, besides having a tendency to de- 

 compose the sulphate and chloride of load already formed, and thus allow 

 fresh action to commence upon the lead. Your committee do not think it 

 worth while to refer at length to the fact, that tin is not oxydised with the 

 same facility as lead, nor are the salts of tin, if formed, rank poison, like 

 those of lead. Our common sense, and the judgment of mankind, agree 

 on this point, as is shown by the use for the last two thousand years of tin, 

 in a vast number of cases, where lead is excluded by common consent. 



Your committee have thought that the investigations instigated by the 

 water commissioners in Boston, about the time of the introduction of the 

 water, in that city, would throw much light upon the subject, and have, 

 therefore, taken pains to arrive at the reasons which induced the commis- 

 sioners to Use lead pipe for service pipe, from the street mains, and as the 

 following review will show, appear to have used lead because it was not 

 practicable at that time, to find anything better. Not that lead pipe was 

 unexceptionable by any means. 



The Boston water commissioners were placed in a singular situation. 

 First, they haji called upon the consulting physicians of Boston for an 

 opinion, and, in reply, obtained a long report from that bod}'-, in which, 

 after alluding to the testimony for and against the use of lead pipe, say : 

 "The cheapness of this metal, its ductility, flexibility, and the ease with 

 which it is wrought, have caused it to be employed for service pipes more 

 tlian all the other materials together. Leaden pipes are liable to be cor- 

 roded by the water of certain wells and springs, and probably also by rain 

 water. But in the water of open lakes and streams, which are compara- 

 tively free from saline ingredients, and which contain portions of organic 

 matter, these pipes are durable for a long time. Lead, in aqueducts, has 

 often been suspected of insalubrity, abandoned, replaced with other mate- 

 rials, and again restored;" and then go on to give a list of the alarming 

 effects of lead introduced into the human s^'^stem, but immediately follow- 

 ing, add : " That notwithstanding these general facts, a large portion of 

 the population of Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and London, have, for 

 years, consumed the water introduced from various sources through leaden 

 pipes, with apparent impunity :" and finally conclude with a statement of 

 having placed the matter in the hands of eminent chemists for further 

 investigation, but they consider, as far as health is concerned — 



" 1. That pipes, made of cast or wrought iron, may be safely used for 

 the transmission of water, as far as health is concerned. 



'■ 2. That copper pipes, effectually tinned through'>ut by reliable work- 

 men, are a safe material for the contemplated transmission of water to 

 dwelling houses in Boston, so long as the internal coating keeps in repair. 



"3. That although leaden pipes in certain waters, and under certain' 



