ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY. 
313 
No. 3 is a sample of water from a well in Lincolnshire, that had proved 
fetal to two farm animals. Dr. Y. to whom the suspected water was sent 
for analysis, says that the water was free from smell, but was colored 
slightly yellow, and he adds, “ unquestionably the water was charged 
with a large proportion of injurious organic impurities, and much con- 
taminated with saline and earthy compounds, which were derived from 
yard drainage, sewage, or similar objectionable liquids. In consequence 
of these impurities the water was positively poisonous and probably 
produced the death of the two beasts.” 
These cases are given, out of hundreds, in order to fix attention upon a 
subject of the last importance, both to cities, and to individuals and to 
society at large, and this because it. has been almost "wholly neglected 
among us, even in our largest towns and cities, whose death rates have 
doubtless often responded sadly to this public ignorance and private and 
official negligence. 
METEORITES. 
In addition to what Dr. Genth has said on this head, page 56 of the 
Appendix, I add the following. 
The Rockingham Meteorite , referred to by Dr. G., I obtained in 1866, 
from Mr. Peters, who found it a few years earlier, and who lived near 
the point where it was picked up. It was found in an old field which 
had not been cultivated for about 20 years, on the top of high hill 
(Smith’s Mountain), and near the site of a former dwelling ; so that its 
fall probably occurred within 20 years. The mass is very compact and 
almost as hard as steel. The original weight was within one ounce of 
eleven pounds. It was coated with rust. Dr. Genth’s analysis of a small 
fragment sent him, gave 
Iron, 90.41 
N ickel and Cobalt, 8.74 
Nickel, .... 
Iron, 
Phosphorus, 
Copper, .... 
0.14 
0.11 
He says : “ It consists of a mixture of several Iron-Nickel alloys, in- 
termixed with phosphide of Nickel-Iron.” “ The iron contains besides, 
pyrites, and probably quartz, or a silicate in minute quantity.” “ This 
meteoric iron is undoubtedly one of the most interesting in existence.” 
