109 
General Meeting, January 12th, 1886. 
Professor W. C. Williamson, LL.D., F.RS., President, 
in the Chair, 
Mr. Thomas Kay, of Stockport, was elected an Ox’dinary 
Member of the Society. 
Ordinary Meeting, January 12th, 1886, 
Professor' W, C. Williamson, LL.D., F.R.S., President, 
in the Chaii*. 
“Note on a Paper by Dr. T. Leone, 'On the Micro- 
organisms of Potable Waters, and their Life in Carbonic 
Waters,”’ by F. J. Farad AY, F.L.S, 
An interesting paper, by Dr. T. Leone, on the micro- 
organisms of potable waters, was recently published in the 
Gazzetta Chimica Italiana. A translation appeared in the 
Chemical News of December 4th last. In fulfilment of a 
promise to the late Dr. Angus Smith, I propose to comment 
on some points in this paper which have a bearing on Di*. 
Smith’s researches. Dr. Leone observes : “ Many experi- 
mentalists who have occupied themselves with the study of 
microbia on Koch’s method, have contented themselves 
with the summary appreciation of the value of a potable 
water according to the number of microbia present, capable 
of producing ' colonies ’ in gelatin. It is believed that the 
bacteria derived from putrescent animal matter produce 
colonies which liquefy gelatin. From the number of such 
colonies it is believed that we may foi^m an opinion as to 
the greater or less corruption of a water.” 
Peoceedings— Lit. & Phil, Soc,— Vol. XXV,— No, 7,— Session 1885-6j 
