82 
evidence as to the quality of the water, particularly with 
regard to its hardness. The value of attention to this point 
will he obvious, when the difference of consumption of 
soap is considered. I found by various trials in summer 
that the Manchester water possesses a hardness equivalent 
to what would be obtained if 13 or 14 grains of chalk were 
dissolved in a gallon of pure water.” The learned Commis- 
sioner gives the water at Aberdeen at one grain of chalk per 
gallon, and comparing that with the 14 of Manchester and 
the 12 of London, he concludes “ Thus the hard water of 
Manchester may be regarded as increasing the water rent to 
a family of five individuals 16s. 8d. per annum, or £49,363 
per annum to the whole town, a sum nearly double that of 
the present water rental. But large as the cost entailed 
upon a town by a bad selection of water in the unnecesary 
consumption of soap, still greater loss is incurred in the wear 
and tear of clothes.” This was written about thirty years 
since, and I have not the death-rate of Manchester in 1842. 
In that space of time how much money has been expended 
in Manchester by the public authorities in shutting up 
cellar dwellings, closing grave yards, removing pigstyes, 
altering ashpits and middens, opening new streets, and sup- 
plying pure water ? I cannot tell its amount, but every 
ratepayer knows practically that it is very large. In looking 
at the rate of mortality for the week ending March 8th, as 
given in the Manchester Guardian, in the 21 leading places 
in the kingdom, it was at the annual rate of 28 per thousand. 
In London, the rate was 27; Bristol, 31; Wolverhampton, 
28 ; Birmingham, 28 ; Nottingham, 27 ; Liverpool, 31 ; Man- 
chester, 36 ; Bradford, 26; Sheffield, 27 ; N ewcastle-on-Tyne, 
31. Now I believe the first named five towns are supplied 
with hard water, and give an aggregate of 141, whilst the 
latter five, are supplied with soft water, and give an 
aggregate of 151. This is a significant fact and worthy 
of grave consideration. True, it is only one w~eek, and 
