81 
Ordinary Meeting, March 18th, 1873. 
J. P. Joule, D.C.L,, LL.D., F.R.S., &c., President, 
in the Chair. 
Mr. James Cosmo Melyill, M.A., F.L.S., was elected an 
Ordinary Member of the Society. 
E. W. Binney, F.R.S., Y.P., said that during the last week 
an interesting controversy had been going on in this city 
between the Town Clerk and the Professor of Chemistry at 
the Royal Institution as to the quality of the water supplied 
to Manchester. These disputants are well able to wage their 
own warfare, therefore it is not my intention to interfere 
with them. In these days no one doubts the blessings of a 
constant supply of pure and good water ; but the latter 
quality is determined in a great measure by the purpose for 
which it is intended to be used. If for manufacturing and 
washing then a pure soft water is no doubt most desirable, 
but it is very questionable if such a water when conveyed 
any considerable distance in leaden pipes is the best for the 
drinking purposes of a town population. 
In the Report of the Commissioners for Inquiring into the 
State of Large Towns and Populous Districts, Dr. Lyon 
Playfair, the Commissioner who reported on the then supply 
of Manchester appears to have directed little attention to 
the quality of drinking water for a town population which 
had to a great extent left off using the milk, porridge, brown 
bread, and oatcake of our forefathers, and resorted to sloppy 
tea, white bread, butter, and a little meat, for at page 41 1 
of his Report he says : — “ In considering the best means for 
the extension of this benefit,” alluding to a constant supply 
“ to the working classes, or in sanctioning the formation of 
new waterworks, it would be highly advisable to obtain 
Proceedings — Lit. & Phil. Society.— Vol. XTI. — Xo. 9.— Session 1872-3. 
