On water supply / by Stevenson Macadam.

Date:
[1872?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On water supply / by Stevenson Macadam. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    On Water Supply. By Stevenson Macadam, Ph.D., F.E.S.E., F.C.S., Lecturer on Chemistry. Read before the Royal Scottish Society of Arts, on 8th January 1872. The subject which I have now to introduce to the notice of the Fellows is probably the most important of any which has occupied our attention for many years; and the Royal Scottish Society of Arts is peculiarly fitted as the learned body before which the subject ought to be discussed. We profess to deal with the applications of science to everyday life ; to its bearings upon the progress of the arts and manu- factures, as well as its influence on sanitary matters. More- over, the subject is one which specially concerns Edinburgh at the present time; and if as a Societ}'^, or as individuals, we can do anything to settle public opinion on this all-important matter, we are bound to do so—especially considering that, at this moment, the subject is an open one for discussion, and we may all feel at liberty to state freely and candidly w hat we do know about it. In introducing the subject, I will endeavour to speak on all points from personal knowledge, and without bias, in the full hope and expectation that those Fellows of the Society, who either agree or disagree with me, may as freely and candidly express their views, The more the matter is dis- cussed, I believe the sooner will we arrive at the truth, and at a common understanding with each other as to all the standards or essentials in water supply. The subject may be discussed under several divisions— I. Quantity of Water. II. Quality of Water. III. Vegetable and Animal Life in Water. IV. Action of Water upon Lead. V. Nature of Gathering Ground. VI. Effects of Filtration. I. Quantitij of Water. The primary uses of water are for drinking, cook- VOL. VIII. 2 X