48 Discussion on Sanitation. 



waste matter. Sanitation includes these four cardinal points. 

 The death rate of any community is in proportion to the 

 manner in which these four things are supplied. I propose to 

 limit the discussion to matters connected with these four 

 things. As regards food supply I do not think it is necessary 

 for me to say much, neither am I competent to deal with the 

 subject as an authority. Others, however, may desire to say 

 something thereon, especially with reference to diseased meat. 

 There certainly ought to be some guarantee that meat exposed 

 for sale for human food should be in a perfectly healthy condi- 

 tion. Recently, as you are aware, there have been several cases 

 in the local courts in connection with diseased meat, which have 

 given rise to much discussion in the Press and elsewhere. This 

 subject may, therefore, form one for discussion. 



Next, the water supply is a very important subject indeed, 

 especially when we consider the sources from which Belfast 

 derives its supply of water. I believe I am right in saying 

 that the whole of the supply is derived from upland surface 

 drainage — what is familiarly known as surface water. This 

 water, exposed as it is to many sources of contamination before 

 being collected in the resorvoirs, is used by the inhaibtants of 

 Belfast unfiltered for drinking purposes. I have always had 

 rather a strong feeling with regard to the water supply of 

 Belfast, and it seems to me there is a considerable degree of 

 danger to health in the water drunk by the great majority of 

 the population. Some time ago I had a controversy with Mr. 

 Macassey, C.E., upon the subject. Several eminent chemists, 

 including Dr. Wanklyn, and, I believe, Dr. Hodges, held that 

 the supply was not good, and analyses were published to support 

 the proposition. Dr. Wanklyn had a system of his own for 

 comparing the purity of water. Dividing the organic matter 

 into free ammonia and albuminoid ammonia, he submitted that 

 water to be fit for drinking should not contain more than - o8 

 per million of free ammonia and 'io per million of albuminoid 

 ammonia. In the town supply, according to that standard, the 

 water was pure enough as regards free ammonia, but not as 



