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WATER SUPPLY AM) PUBLIC HEALTH. 
By W. TOPLEY, F.G.S., 
Assoc. Inst. C.E. Geological Survey of England and Wales. 
I N the year 1868 a Commission was appointed to inquire into 
the best means of preventing the pollution of rivers, with 
special reference to the disposal of sewage, to questions re- 
lating to water supply, and the public health generally. Five 
Reports have appeared during the last seven years ; these dealt 
with the pollution of certain selected rivers, the question of 
water supply being only incidentally referred to. In the sixth 
and final Report the Commissioners devote their attention 
exclusively to the “ Domestic Water Supply of Great 
Britain.” * 
The names of Dr. Frankland and Mr. J. C. Morton are suffi- 
cient guarantee for the accuracy of the information given in 
the Report. But in this complicated question names alone, 
however eminent, are not sufficient to stamp with unquestioned 
authority all opinions and inferences ; and we do not doubt 
that some conclusions contained in the Report wili be stoutly 
denied by authorities equally eminent. That the work, so. 
far as data are concerned, has been thoroughly done, will 
be evident from the fact that more than 2,000 analyses of water 
have been made. These have all been made on a definite 
plan, and are arranged as systematically as could conveniently 
be done. The Commissioners state that “ water has been fol- 
lowed through the complete cycle of its migrations ; it has 
been caught as it descended from the clouds soon after its con- 
densation from colourless and invisible vapour, collected as it 
flowed in streams after washing the surfaces upon which it fell, 
examined after it had penetrated to various depths through 
* “ Sixth Report of the Commissioners appointed in 1868 to inquire 
into the Pollution of Rivers.” [By Dr. E. Franldand and J. C. Morton.] 
Folio. Lond. 1874. Pp. xi. 525 ; Maps and Plans. (Although dated 1874, 
the Report was not issued till late in 1875.) 
