Collection of reports (condensed) and opinions of chemists in regard to the use of lead pipe for service pipe in the distribution of water for the supply of cities / [James P. Kirkwood].

  • Kirkwood, James Pugh, 1807-1877.
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Collection of reports (condensed) and opinions of chemists in regard to the use of lead pipe for service pipe in the distribution of water for the supply of cities / [James P. Kirkwood]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    William Melhuisch, Plumber, London. Have you observed that all Thames water acts upon lead cis- terns ? Yes; but in some old cisterns of two hundred years of age, and which are made of very thick lead, the water has only eaten half through them, while in modern cisterns the water has eaten quite through the lead Rain water never acts upon the lead; I never knew a rain water cistern that was destroyed. William Hawkins, Plumber, London. Then, as the general result of your observation and experience, you would say that hard water acts upon lead in a greater degree than soft water ? That is just what I have always observed. Dr. W. Spencer, of Liverpool, Chemist. I have made a good deal of direct inquiry, and have had infor- mation from the best sources, but have not heard of any case even of suspected indisposition which has arisen from the use of lead pipes kept always charged with water!1 Dr. Shier, Agricultural Chemist to the Colony of Demerara. My attention was first called to the subject by Dr. Blair, our Colonial Surgeon General, in consequence of symptoms of lead poison- ing occurring in his practice. On investigation I found lead in the suspected water, and in quantity too large to admit of a doubt of its being the cause of great and wide spread mischief.