Annual Report, of the Caiisvltivr/ Chemist. 
221 
pounds, and, as they were as fresh and palatable as a nut, I have 
little doubt that the animals who suffered in health partook too 
ireely of them, and were unable properly to digest the large propor- 
tion of nitrogenous compounds which first quality decorticated 
cotton-cake contains. In point of fact, good decorticated cotton- 
cake is too rich in nitrogenous matters to suit well by itself the 
constitution of herbivorous animals, and I \YOuld therefore 
strongly recommend its being mixed with Indian corn, or a 
similar starchy food comparatively poor in nitrogenous matters. 
Other specimens of decorticated cotton-cake, reported to me 
as having done injury to stock, I found very hard pressed ; and on 
further examination 1 detected in them a great many hard lumps 
of consolidated cake, varying in size from a pea to a large nut. 
These hard lumps, it appears to me, are produced in pressing 
the cake. With a view of obtaining as much oil from decorti- 
cated cotton-seed as possible, the latter is at first pressed cold ; 
the cold-pressed cake is then broken up and ground into meal, 
heat being applied at the same time, and in order to prevent the 
cake becoming roasted, some water is sprinkled upon the broken 
cake when it is ground a second time. If this operation is 
carelessly done, the water forms small lumps with some of the 
pounded cake, and is rendered very indigestible. 
In the next place, I have to report that of the 36 samples of 
drinking waters sent to me for examination by Members of the 
Society, I found a good many largely contaminated with sewage, 
yard-drainage, and similar prejudicial liquids. Abundant evi- 
dence has shown me that the water with which country houses 
and villages is supplied is frequently largely impregnated with 
animal refuse products, and is unquestionably injurious to the 
health of those who drink it. By way of illustration, I would 
direct attention to the following analyses of two samples of water ; 
one sent for examination from a place in Warwickshire, the other 
from Northamptonshire. 
The Warwickshire water was found to contain, in the imperial 
gallon : — 
Grains. | Constituents Combined. 
Organic and volatile matters j Grains, 
(1( ss on heating) 6-80 | Organic matter, including 2-464) „ 
ribasic phosphate of lime .. 1-25 of oxydisable matter .. .. J 
Lime 12-76 
Magnesia " 9'11 
Chlorine 10-49 
Sulphuric acid 11-15 
Nitric acid 17-22 
Alkalies and Carbonic acid .. 25-72 
Soluble silica 1-20 
Phosphate of lime 
Sulphate of lime 
CarlDonate of lime .. 
Carbonate of magnesia 
Nitrate of magnesia 
Chloride of sodium . . 
Alkaline carbonates 
Soluble silica .. 
1-25 
18-95 
8-86 
5-75 
23-59 
17-28 
12-02 
1-20 
95-70 
95-70 
