Ixxviii PKOCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [May 1 899, 



open nature afc and near the surface, so as to readily allow perco- 

 lation. The gathering-grounds around some of the springs ' are 

 covered with hop- or fruit-gardens, which are heavily manured, and 

 on which great numbers of persons are employed at certain seasons 

 of the year.' The conclusion arrived at is ' that the epidemic was 

 caused by the pollution of the water,' the chemical analyses of 

 samples of which, ' taken from some of the springs after the epidemic 

 broke out, show that the Parleigh supply had been dangerously 

 polluted ; and the bacteriological examination of the samples from 

 two at least of the springs afforded conclusive evidence of excre- 

 mental pollution by man or the lower animals.' The moral to be 

 drawn is that ' chemical analyses and bacteriological examinations 

 should be supplemented by skilled inspections of the actual condi- 

 tions, geological, topographical, and sanitary, of the surroundings 

 of the sources of supply.'^ 



In leaving this subject I may refer to two Addresses, delivered 

 to another body, in which several matters concerning the pollution 

 of water-supplies are noticed.^ 



A great deal of matter referring to water-supply is to be found 

 in many of the Geological Survey Memoirs, as should be expected, 

 and of late the officers of the Survey have begun to pay special 

 attention to sanitary matters. The first fruit of this is the memoir 

 by Mr. H. B. Woodward on ' Soils & Sub-soils from a Sanitary Point 

 of Yiew ; with especial reference to London & its Neighbourhood/ ^ 

 and that such a work was wanted is shown by its rapid sale, an 

 issue of 750 copies having been exhausted in less than two months. 

 As the type was standing, further 750 copies were printed, and of 

 these some 150 have been sold already. It should be noted that 

 the map, printed in thirteen colours, has its divisions grouped 

 by their physical characters, instead of by their geological age. 



This highly successful memoir is to be followed by others treating 

 of water-supply from underground sources, by counties. The first 

 of this set, devoted to Sussex, is being printed, and extends to more 

 than 120 pages, chiefly devoted to accounts of wells, but giving also 

 a number of water- analyses and a short introductory outline of the 



^ Borough of Maidstone : ' Eeport ... on the Epidemic of Tjphoid Fever, 

 i897; pp. 17, 30, 33. Fol. London, 1898. 



2 Trans. Sanit. Inst. vol. viii (1887) pp. 250-258, & vol. xviii (1898) 

 pp. 304-316. 



^ Pp. vi &58, with folding coloured map. 8vo. London, 1897. 



