On Lead Poisoning and Water Supplies

Abstract

THE second volume on the above subject has recently been issued by the medical officer of the Local Government Board. The former volume contained information concerning Dr. Houston's study of waters derived from moorland gathering grounds in Lancashire and Yorkshire; the present volume gives details of an extensive series of laboratory experiments bearing on the general subject and conducted by Dr. Houston. They have been published in order to facilitate the interpretation of the results obtained when studying the solvent or erosive power of a water on lead pipes, with the view of counteracting these dangerous qualities. Particular attention is directed to observations on “standards” (p. 443) in this volume, where methods of measuring the solvent and erosive powers of a water upon lead are given enabling an opinion to be formed as to the degree of risk arising from the contact of such water with lead surfaces.