ZINC IN DRINKING-WATER.

ZINC IN DRINKING-WATER.

ZINC IN DRINKING-WATER. in Fribonrg, 34; and in Carouge, 11. In the fifteen principal life-centres of Switzerland (aggregate population 524,251) there...

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ZINC IN DRINKING-WATER. in Fribonrg, 34; and in Carouge, 11. In the fifteen principal life-centres of Switzerland (aggregate population 524,251) there were in May last 1266 births, not counting 49 stillbirths and 1056 deaths; whilst of these, 71 births, 2 stillbirths and 171 deaths occurred in persons coming from other localities. The rate of mortality, calculated for the year, according to the deaths during the month of May, is 23 7 per 1000 (37 7 at Lausanne and 24’1 at Geneva) ; whilst the birth-rate has risen to 284 per 1000. Infectious diseases number 82 victims, as against 87 for the preceding month of April and 141 if the deaths induced by infantile diarrhoea be added. Measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, croup and pertussis figure with 87 deaths, against 72 in April and to the same causes 7 deaths Acute affections of were due in Geneva and 17 in Lausanne. the respiratory organs are responsible for 111 deaths as against 131 in April, and phthisis pulmonalis for 138, as against 163. Deaths by violence were 41 in number, 20 of these being due to accident, 19 being suicides and 2 homicides. From the above statistics it is fair to conclude that as the warmer and presumably more settled weather of August and of the first half of September advances the risks from lung disease will mark a still further diminution than that recorded in May, which, as has been seen, contrasts favourably with April, whilst the mortality from infantile maladies, which is at its height in the closing weeks of spring, is not likely to assume any recrudescence in the late summer or early autumn. As to cholera, Switzerland has hitherto shown an enviable freedom from it as compared with other countries, Zurich being the town most heavily visited on the last occasion of its outbreak. For this reason, as the influx the North Sea German from indicated, already of and that of the French from those Mediterranean the ports to the resorts as inundate mountain may be expected many it did in 1891."" ___

ZINC IN DRINKING-WATER.

261

it is observed in the sixth report of the Rivers l’ollution Commission, p 226, that certain polluted shallow well waters, containing much dissolved oxygen and but little carbonic acid, possess the property of acting continuously both on bright and tarnished lead, and that when galvanised iron pipes are substituted the water is found to be impregnated with zinc instead of lead. Loch Katrine water, again, so remarkable for its purity, acts both on bright and tarnit-hed lead and also attacks galvanised iron. Pure soft water would appear therefore to dissolve zinc in a similar manner to lead, but on boiling water impregnated with zinc, which it takes up in a less

poisonous though greater quantity than lead, a white precipitate of basic carbonate is obtained. In view of these observations water intended for drinking purposes, and especially soft water, should not be distributed in g Ivanised iron pipes, and there is some ground for apprehending that its storage in tanks of this material would not be attended with some risk.

improbably

DEATHS UNDER ANÆSTHETICS. THE study of THE LANCET Commission on Anaesthetics confirms the fact that accidents under nitrous oxide gas are extremely rare. The cases of reputed deaths under it are as a rule merely deaths associated with, but not due to, this anaesthetic; and a recent fatality at Batley which we are about to narrate is no exception to this statement. It appears that a collier, aged thirty-nine, went to a local dentist with the view of having several teeth removed. An examination of his mouth revealed the fact that, owing to an accident in childhood, a portion of the jaw was lost, and considerable deformity, with lateral displacement of the chin, had resulted. This caused a difficulty in opening the mouth, and had led to narrowing of the oral orifice and stenosis of the air ways. It was given in evidence by a brother that the deceased had difficulty in breathing and in his sleep snored heavily, occasionally

awakening

as

though choking.

Although

a

post-mortem

INSTANCES of the solvent effect of certain water-supplies examination was made we find no mention of the anatcmical upon lead piping are well known, because, unfortunately, the state of the jaws, mouth and naso pharynx. The lungs and contamination proceeding from this cause-notably in the heart are carefully described, but the real cause of danger is not mentioned ; probably this is the reporter’s omission, and cases of Sheffield, Leeds and other places-has led to serious not that of the gentleman responsible for the necropsy. The and alarming issues. The contamination of drinking-water of the case seem to have been as follows : The patient facts with zinc due to galvanised iron pipes is, however, not so widely known because water impregnated with zinc is insisted upon an anæsthetic, although the dentist appears to decidedly less injurious in its action compared with lead, and have urged him to submit to the extraction without it. The also because galvanised iron piping is seldom used for the dentist in the presence of his assistants gave the patient conveyance of drinking-water. Yet cases of zinc contami- nitrous oxide gas from an iron bottle. The same bottle had nation from this cause have come under our notice. The been used without ill effects for other patients. The respirawater supplied to Cwmfelin, near Llanelly, for instance, tion became abnormal and laboured almost at once and the inhalation was stopped whilst the dentist attempted, but vainly, was a few years ago carried for about half a mile through to pull the tongue forward ; he then introduced the handles a galvanised iron pipe. The character of the water being suspected it was submitted to examination by ourselves, and of his forceps to give access of air to the larynx, but death the following results were obtained : Water from the spring- appeared to take place almost immediately. The patient total solids, 10’8; chlorine, 147; ammonia, none ; nitrogen was lifted from the dental chair and placed upon the Water from the pipe- floor for the performance of artificial respiration and at as nitrate, 0’056 grain per gallon. The necropsy total solids, 18’9; chlorine, 145 ; ammonia, 0 008 ; nitrogen this time the radial pulse was palpable. to from in carbonic referred to death zinc carbonate in solution and as nitrate, none; already points simply asphyxia, acid, 641 grains per gallon. It will be seen that the spring and there can be little or no doubt that the patient died water was very pure, and its solvent action upon zinc by from this cause. Whether a prompt resort to laryngotomy water containing dissolved oxygen and free carbonic acid must would have saved the patient’s life we cannot say, as the have been considerable. The reduction of nitrates to ammonia evidence before us may be incomplete ; but as far as it goes by the action of the zinc was a noteworthy feature in the it certainly seems that this line of treatment would have case. The water was characterised by a strong metallic taste. proved successful. Whether dentists wtoadminister anxsSimilar examples arerecorded in the Guy’s Hospital Reports, thetics are prepared to perform laryngotomy we do not thld series, vol. xvii., p. 233, 1872, by Dr. Stevenson, who know ; but unless they are so prepared and are in a position quotes also the opinion of several expert on the question to justify this surgical proceeding on their part, we think of the injurious action of water that has been impregnated they certainly are not free from liability to adverse criticism with zinc. Upon this question there appears to be a if they administer an anæsthetic to a patient, especially if diversity of opinion, but the majority agree that injurious difticulties are apprehended, without the prcesnce of a surgeon effects are likely to follow from the use of water so con- prepared to undertake the treatment of any emergency which taminated. In commenting upon the action of water upon lead, may arise. We have further to record a death under chloroform,