THE NATURAL HISTORY OF WELL WATERS.

1250 and composition of the drainage water at various of the year, especially with reference to the process of nitrification and the absorption of nitrogen by growing crops. As to evaporation, the results seem to show that, in round numbers, about one-half the rainfall of the year percolates through bare soil, and about one-third through unmanured soil cropped with wheat. This, of course, is only true under the conditions prevailing at Rothamsted. Armed with these valuable factors, Mr. Warrington has, with laborious skill, investigated the well waters of the neighbouring village of Rarpenden-some of which are uncontaminated, while others are certainly contaminated. We must refer to the original paper for the very interesting observations which the author has made upon these works end their apparently eccentric contamination. He does not profess to explain all the anomalies, but, knowing and using as a basis the composition of the uncontaminated THE NATURAL HISTORY OF WELL WATERS. of the district, he has been able to throw light upon W waters ANOTHER important contribution to science comes to us s( some of them. The effect of season, variation of rainfall, from the celebrated laboratory and experimental farm at ai and local circumstances upon the composition of the well Rothamsted. Sir J. B. Lawes and Dr. Gilbert, whose labours, waters is amply illustrated, and the large quantities of spread over a long period of time, have done so much for C,calcium, magnesium, and sulphuric acid in the polluted agricultural chemistry, did wisely when a few years ago they 7waters is both interesting and important. From the whole took Mr. Robert Warington into their scientific partner- s.study we gather the general inference, by no means new to ship. The present research stands in the name of thethe t experienced chemist, that it is very unsafe to give a younger worker only, although he carries on the work anddefinite d opinion on the quality of a water without a greater has doubtless been aided by the counsel of his distinguishedI knowledge of its source than can be gained by a mere confreres. Mr. Warington’s paper occupies more than fifty aanalysis. The analysis is essential, but it can only be B pages of the current number of the journal of the iinterpreted by what in medical practice is known as the I Chemical Society. It will be studied by all interested in ffamily history of the case. sanitation or scientific agriculture, and it contains such aL mass of facts and tables that it is not possible to give any PROF. GAYET ON OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM. adequate idea of it in a narrow compass. Moreover, there DR. &ATBT, Professor of Ophthalmic Surgery in Lyons, are as yet no great generalisations to record, but chiefly a his pupils, in a clinical lecture on Ophthalmia Neonaurges mass of statistical evidence which grows more detailed and torum,published in La Province Médicale, to search diligently accurate, and therefore more valuable, every year. Fairfor the gonococcus of blenorrhagia in all cases of ophthalmia inductive reasoning is, however, applied to the facts. The I in very young infants. It does not, he says, require occurring first section deals with the rain water of Rothamsted, any skill, and can be accomplished in as short extraordinary which has been systematically collected and measured since a time as the ordinary examination of urine for albumen. 1853, and which is evidently the basis of the whole inquiry. A particle of the pus is placed on a glass slide and spread The.average proportion in one million parts of this water out by means of a second slide; the two are then separated, is of chlorine 201, of sulphuric acid (SOg) 2’52, of ammonia furnishing two preparations. They are stained by dropping 0 35, and of total combined nitrogen 067. The last item is a mixture of an alcoholic solution of methyl blue with equal to about 4’4lb. per acre per annum. Then comes a an equal volume of water on them, allowing it to remain consideration of the drainage water. Ever since 1870 for two minutes. They are then washed with plenty several isolated patches of prepared soil, consisting of of On microscopic examination each of the water. loam and flint resting on a clay subsoil, supported on will be seen to have two, three, or four leucocytes perforated iron plates and protected laterally by im- nuclei, this being a special character of the disease. pervious walls, have been kept free from vegetation and the increase in the number of nuclei heralding the approach The beds are respectively twenty, forty, and manure. of the gonococci, which will be observed as intensely blue sixty inches thick, and the drainage water is collected, spherical bodies in the interior of some of the leucocytes. measured, and analysed. The thickness of the bed was If only one leucocyte so invaded is discovered, the diagnosis found to make no important difference, and the results of blenorrhagic inflammation is rendered certain. With on the five-feet bed are taken as typical. Of 31’04 inches to treatment, the child must be watched " like milk of rain which fell on this soil, 17’09 inches evaporated and regard on the fire," the visits being more than one per diem. Three 13 95 inches percolated below five feet. In the drainage indications present themselves: 1. To clear away the agent water the chlorine was found to be the same as in the rain of infection. 2. To its development. 3. To destroy water, but concentrated by the evaporation; while the itwhere it is. Toprevent fulfil the first, frequent and careful nitrogen, as nitrates, was on the average 10per millionout is requisite. The eyelids should be everted, the the process of nitrification being most active during summer, washing stretched, and all the folds of the conwhile the principal discharge ofnitrates was during autumn. sac thoroughly syringed out with a ball syringe; 3 ,u.n, -tv , The influence of vegetation is next studied. The conditionsI the eyelids should then be replaced, well rubbed on at Rothamsted are remarkably suitable for experiment. One celebrated field has grown wheat continuously since the outside, again everted, and the syringing repeated. 1843, and one portion of it has never been manured. The1 In this way all the pus will be removed, but it is drainage water from each is carefully collected, measured, a somewhat difficult and tedious operation. In order to and analysed. Vegetation, especially during its active stage, destroy the microbes which have already penetrated into increases enormously the surface evaporation by transpira- the substance of the conjunctival mucous membrane, they tion of water through the plant, and in our climate during must be pursued and attacked by the solid mitigated nitrate summer drainage is entirely suspended by the action of ai of silver, a solution of common salt being afterwards emThe of vigorous crop. Interesting details are given as to the quan-- ployed to neutralise any superabundance caustic.

four grown-up men lodgers. In the room in which Dr. Brady saw the man on his visit, were three beds. The room was 7 ft. high, and 10 ft. 9 in. by 11 ft. 8 in. : making allowances for recesses, and deducting space occupied by furniture, a cubic space of 842 ft. Seven persons had slept in the room, but the belief was that a larger number occupied it. The landlady stated that the deceased had slept in the adjoining room, which was a little less in cubic space, and contained two beds for the lodgers. The jury found a verdict that the deceased died from asphyxia caused by overcrowding. In manufacturing towns like Wigan persons occupy houses and take in lodgers, but, not having these registered, they evade the Lodging Houses Act, and thus escape inspection. The sanitary authority, however, should strive to get houses like this one under its control.

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