66 
SCIENCE. 
SCIENCE: 
A Weekly Record of Scientific 
Progress. 
JOHN MICHELS, Editor. 
Published at 
229 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 
P. O. Box 3838. 
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1880. 
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Broadway. 
ANALYSIS OF WATER. 
The trouble attending the making of analyses of 
water is considerable, and may account for the reluc- 
tance of chemists to make such investigations unless 
under special orders. 
As the value of such analysis of the water supply of 
cities is great, especially at a time when the subject is 
receiving so much attention, we gladly welcome some 
valuable work accomplished in this direction at New- 
ark, New Jersey, by Dr. Herman H. C. Herold, of 
that city, and placed at the disposal of “Science.” 
As Dr. Herold has made his calculations both for 
grains in the imperial gallon, and also according to 
the metric system, we reproduce both in tabular form. 
To this record is added the analysis of water from a 
New York well, also made by Dr. Herold, and de- 
scribed by him at page 13 of this Journal, forming 
part of No. 2, issued July 10th last. 
The inference Dr. Herold draws after making these 
analyses, is that relatively the water from the Passaic 
river stands at the head of the list, as being the most 
favorable as a water supply for Newark, in comparison 
with that obtained from driven wells. 
Still the Aqueduct Water (Passaic) is not in a 
satisfactory condition, its imperfections being due to 
impurities derived from the city of Newark itself, and 
not from Paterson and other towns above it, as the 
run of twelve miles would oxidize such organic matter. 
The results of an analysis of the aqueduct water of 
Newark City, made by Dr. Herold in the month of 
June, as compared with the results of the analysis 
made in March, shows a decided deterioration in the 
condition of the water during the time between the 
two periods. To a very great extent this may be ex 
plained as being a result of natural causes. During 
the interval we suffered from a prolonged drought, 
the lowlands being thoroughly drained and converted 
into pools, the flood-tide, flowing farther up the 
river than is usual, carried with it much of the impuri- 
ties of the city which are emptied into the river. The 
distance being short, these impurities did not have 
adequate opportunity for oxygenation and destruction. 
As will be seen by a comparison of the following 
tables, the amount of solid residue, 6.688 grains per 
imperial gallon, is about double that obtained by the 
former analysis, which showed only 3.147 grains per 
imperial gallon. The amount of organic matter has 
increased 2^ times, or 0.957 grains against 0.378 
grains of the former analysis. A still more alarming 
increase is found in the chlorine, 0.636 grains to 0.21 1 
grains, found in the former analysis — an increase of 
300 per cent. 
Dr. Herold also states that his views regarding the 
advantages of securing a water supply for cities from 
running streams is strengthened by further examina- 
tion of the question and everyday experience. What- 
ever organic matter may find its way into a running 
river is necessarily largely diluted. In the constant 
change of position and great increase of surface it is 
exposed to the oxygen of the air and also to that in 
the water ; the plants along the bottom and sides of 
the stream are sure to absorb a certain proportion 
and by these means, if the water is only given far 
enough to flow, the matter contained in it cannot but 
be neutralized and to a very great extent destroyed. 
The great advantage to cities in being supplied from 
such a source is now generally conceded by all author- 
ities who have made the subject of hygiene a study. 
