saleable butters in our large towns are foreign manufactures, containing a large proportion of oleomargarine. British dairy farmers cannot contend against this sort of competition, because the adulterated article is of very superior "make," and is sold in a very handy and attractive form, with a large profit, at rates which are considerably lower than those for which the genuine article can be produced. The only legal protection which British dairying interests need is protection from fraud. At the present time Continental countries are importing oleo-margarine on a very large scale from the United States and even from London, and the well-made, attractively-packed butter from these same countries meets a sale which is practically driving all but the very best of genuine home products out of the market. This would be fair, if the competing terms were equal; but they are not equal, because all these foreign adulterated articles are sold as butter. If they were sold as admixtures, consumers could pay their money and take their choice; as it is, they pay their money for what seems to be the best. Possibly it may be the best, ad valorem, but there are many who would not purchase adulterated butter at any price if they knew it to be adulterated. The fraudulent sale of adulterated dairy products should be adequately prevented by legal enactment, and then the action of consumers would settle the trade on a firm and definite basis. THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES OF ENGLAND. VALUATION, ACCORDING TO WIGNER'S VALUATION SCALE, OF THE ANALYSES PUBLISHED THIS MONTH. In the following table we give the average valuation of the public water supplies from January to June, and the valuations for last month (the July waters) and this month (the August waters). Taking the Metropolitan waters we find that the average valuation of the eight supplies for August is about one less than that for July. The Kent and East London each show an improvement; the New River remains the same as last month; and in five cases there is a slight increase in the figure, although in every case but one the August figure is below the average for the first six months of the year. The most pure of the provincial supplies during August are: Rochdale with a value of 9; Dublin, 13; Whitehaven, 14; Canterbury, 16; Shrewsbury, 17; Bolton and Swansea, each 19; and Edinburgh and Bath, each 20—and in nearly all cases these figures show a slight improvement upon the July waters. The following supplies also show an improvement on the July supplies, viz. :Birmingham, Bury, Cambridge, King's Lynn, Leeds, Maidstone, Southampton, and Wolverhampton. On the other hand, in the following towns, the valuation shows increased impurity, viz. :-Bath, Bradford, Bolton, Darlington, Exeter, Grantham, Hastings, Huddersfield, Ipswich, Liverpool, Manchester, Newark, Newcastle, Norwich, Reading, Swansea. ERRATA. In the corresponding paper to this in our last issue the average valuation of the Chelsea water for the first six months was, by a printer's error, inserted as 39 instead of 30. ANALYSTS' REPORTS. Dr. J. F. Hodges, analyst for Belfast, reports that during the past quarter 54 articles of food, &c., were examined by him, viz. :—32 samples of sweetmilk, 14 of buttermilk, and 3 of aerated waters. Of these three samples of sweetmilk and seven samples of buttermilk were found adulterated; and fines were inflicted during the quarter, amounting to £9 103. 8d., for violations of the Act. At Somerset Quarter Session, held at Taunton, the county analyst, Dr. H. J. Alford, reported that during the past quarter he had analysed 255 samples, all of which, except one from the general public, were brought by the police inspectors. The samples included 86 of butter, five of which were adulterated; but in no case was the adulteration such as to be be prejudicial to health. The Chairman (Mr. R. H. Paget, M.P.) said in some cases there had been a failure of justice, owing to the analyst's certificate not having been given in proper form, according to the statute, and by his directions the Clerk of the Peace had communicated with the analyst on the subject. The Chief Constable had issued a circular in consequence of the suggestion made at the last quarter session, calling the attention of the superintendents of the police to the large importation of oleo-margarine, butterine, and other compounds passed off as butter. Mr. Rogers asked if the report of the analyst stated what the butter was adulterated with. The Clerk of the Peace said foreign fat. The Chairman observed that foreign fat was invariably of an inferior quality, and care should be taken to protect the interests of the public. Dr. Alfred Hill, analyst for the Borough of Birmingham, reports that during the past quarter he examined 43 samples, viz.:-15 of milk, 12 of tea, 6 of ale, 6 of flour, and 4 of butter. Nine of the milks had been tampered with, but the other samples were unadulterated. One milk had been deprived of 50 per cent. of its cream, and a fine of £10 and costs was inflicted on the vendor. THE ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES.-During the past month we have forwarded to the Analysts who are engaged in this scheme a copy of the Tables of Water Analysis, the Instructions for Water Analysis, and other matter connected with the subject. In deference to the wishes of those engaged in the analyses, we have, as our present stock is exhausted, decided to print at once a further supply for publication. SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS. Analyses of English Public Water Supplies in August, 1881. All results are expressed in GRAINS PER GALLON. HARDNESS, Before After Fahr. 15.0° 4.30 24.80 4 yellow green none 1.34 trace 6 c. v. f. yellow none 1.24 trace 130 0013 0021 none 0210 13.7° West Middlesex 17 greenish yellow none 1.17 none Lambeth Chelsea 9 c. p. grn. yelw. none 1.12 trace •160 none .0008 none none 16.0° SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS. Analyses of English Public Water Supplies in August, 1881. Leeds Aug. 12 Leicester. 19 light yellow v. s. yellow •62 none none none none 1.13 trace yellow green s. peaty 1.08 traces 2.8° 3.4° 0028 4.48 peaty matter satisfactory lgt. grn. s. opqe. none 2.70 traces •280 none 0018 0028 Public Conduit c. light blue none 2.30 traces Manchester. 12 c. colourless none .74 none none bluish green none 1.78 trace 0271 ⚫0989 17.0° Newcastle-on f. yellow none .76 trace 11.8° Norwich 9 s. grnsh. yellow none 2.20 traces 0400 15.0° Nottingham 22 c. green. bluish none 2.10 traces 0100 15.0° Portsmouth 14 clear none 1.17 traces none 11.5° yellowish none 1.00 trace 0560 14.8° pale blue none •50 none 3 cloudy & yellow none ⚫70 none Shrewsbury July 26 c. colourless none 1.45 Southampton . Aug. 18 Swansea 19 4 v. s. turb. p. grn.] none 1.10 trace s. yelw. tinge none 1.29 none Abbreviations:-c., clear; f., faint; h., heavy; p., pale; v. h., very heavy; v. s., very slight. none 2.5° 4.90 earthy matter •4° CORRESPONDENCE. [The Editors are not responsible for the opinions of their Correspondents.] SCHUYLKILL WATER. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE ANALYST." SIR,-I send the following as a result of analysis of a sample taken from laboratory hydrant, The increase of the various ingredients is due probably to the want of rain, and consequent diminished volume of water in the river. 715, Walnut Street, Philadelphia, July 30th, 1881. Yours, HENRY LEFFMAN, M.D. WATER ANALYSIS IN NEW YORK. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE ANALYST." SIR,-I have been much interested in the Papers on Water Supplies which have recently appeared in THE ANALYST, and the Directions of the Committee of the Society of Public Analysts. My method of making ammonia and albuminoid ammonia determinations may not be acceptable, but I find it more convenient. I first put some 300 c.c. of water in the retort, with 25 c.c. carbonate of soda solution and distil until no more ammonia appears in the distillate, to clean retort, &c., then add the water 500 c.c., distil and nesslerize the distillate, and then, if I have more than one sample to test, add 500 c.c. and nesslerize again. Then, if the retort is not too full, add 50 to 80 c.c. permanganate solution, and distil until the distillate is free from ammonia; then add 500 c.c. more water and distil, and nesslerize the distillate which gives total. The difference between free and total would be albuminoid ammonia. The method is, as you see, adopted from suggestions thrown out in various English publications on the subject, and when I have two or three waters at a time to test, it effects a great saving of time, and avoids any corrections for ammonia in the reagents, which I find is very common. I get results agreeing with themselves on the same sample much more readily than in any other way. I should be glad to hear criticisms on the method. As regards chlorine, if a water shows nothing high but that, it would take a sample almost impalatable to condemn it on that ground alone, though without very excessive amounts of other constituents, it might be reckoned as doubtful on account of the presence of some really innocent chlorides. Yours, &c., SCHOOL OF MINES, NEW YORK. LAW REPORTS. E. WALLER. Adulterated Butter.-A Nice Question:— Hamilton T. Hardman, provision merchant, at Sunderland, and the occupier of a stall in the Market, was charged by William McKay, inspector of nuisances to the Corporation, with selling butter adulterated to the extent of 76 per cent. with foreign fats, on the 30th June. Mr. F. M. Bowey, Deputy Town Clerk, appeared in support of the charge, and Mr. Marshall defended. The Inspector proved |