102 
METHYLATED MEDICINES. 
wholly neglect nor exclusively rely upon the results of chemical analysis, but 
should bring to bear upon the subject every available means of ascertaining 
the past and present conditions to which the water has been subjected, so 
that we may draw our conclusions from that which is unseen as well as from 
the results of direct experiment. 
Thus, the exercise of common sense in the investigation of the conditions 
to which the water has been exposed, aided by the results of analysis, and 
some knowledge of physiological investigations and the laws of nature, will 
lead to the following conclusions with reference to this matter:— 
1. All water that has received drainage containing animal and vegetable 
matter in a state of putrefactive decomposition, and especially excrementitious 
matter, either is or is liable to be in a state unfit for use as drinking-water, 
and the chemist cannot determine by analysis whether the dangerous state 
exists or not. 
2. All rivers necessarily receive drainage, and they are generally contami¬ 
nated with sewage and other decomposing organic matter which may render 
the use of such water injurious to health. 
3. Shallow wells situated in large towns are subject to pollution from infil¬ 
tration, from leakage of sewers, and other similar causes, and as these waters 
are stagnant the organic matter present, if it has not passed, is liable to 
assume, its most dangerous condition. 
4. Spring water, when favourably situated, is free from suspicion of its 
containing organic impurity that could prove injurious to health. 
5. E-ain-water, if properly collected and stored, is the best and safest water 
to use for domestic purposes, and especially for drinking. 
6. In the absence of rain-water or good spring-water, the best and most 
palatable water should be selected from other sources, choosing that which is 
most free from organic matter, and which has been least exposed to sewage 
contamination. In order to guard as far as possible against the influence of 
living germs, by which it is supposed that disease may be propagated, it is 
recommended on the highest authority that when water to which a suspicion 
attaches is used for drinking purposes, it should be previously boiled, the 
heat of boiling water being destructive to the vitality of such germs. A sup¬ 
ply sufficient for the day should be daily submitted to the boiling temperature, 
and this after it has cooled may be rendered more palatable by the addition 
of a little syrup of lemon, or even a few drops of diluted sulphuric acid. 
METHYLATED MEDICINES. 
Erom communications we have received from several correspondents, it 
appears that the operation of the Act recently passed, prohibiting the use of 
methylated spirit for certain purposes in medicine, and the “ Order” founded 
upon the Act, which has been issued by the Board of Inland Revenue, are 
not, in many instances, clearly understood. This misunderstanding, we 
believe, has been caused by a verbal error in the order above referred to, 
which contains the following paragraph 
“ By the above Act, s. 8, it is provided that no person shall use methylated 
spirit or any derivative thereof in the manufacture, composition, or prepara¬ 
tion of any article whatever capable of being used either wholly or partially 
as a beverage or internally as a medicine, nor shall sell or have in his posses¬ 
sion any (such) article in the manufacture of which any methylated spirit or 
