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No. III.

(Published 3rd February, 1868.)

On the Reproductive Functional Relations of several Species
and Varieties of Verbasca.-By JOHN SCOTT, Esq., Curator
of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Calcutta,
Contributions towards a history of PANOLIA ELDI: McLelland,-

Page

143

By Captain R. C. BEAVAN, C. M. Z. S. &c.,
Zoological Notes.-By WILLIAM T. BLANFORD, F. G. S., Cor.
Mem. Z. S. Lon.,

175

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189

Kashmir, the Western Himalaya and the Afghan Mountains, a
Geological paper.-By ALBERT M. VERCHERE, Esq. M. D,
Bengal Medical Service; with a note on the fossils by M.
EDOUARD DE VERNEUIL, Membre de l'Académie des

Sciences, Paris,
Abstract of the Results of the Hourly Meteorological Observa-
tions made at the Surveyor General's Office in June, July,
and August, 1866,

...

201

xli-xlix

Ps.

JOURNAL

OF THE

ASIATIC SOCIETY.

The plates attached to this number refer to Dr. A. Verchère's paper in this and previous numbers of the Journal.

Plates referred to in Mr. Blanford's Contributions to Indian Malacology will be issued with the next number of the Journal.

doubtful accuracy and unsatisfactory nature of the results generally
given by chemists respecting organic matter in waters, except some of
the most recent. For though I have found that the process detailed
in the previous part of my paper is older than I then supposed, having
been recommended by Mr. Dugald Campbell in 1856 as suggested by
Dr. Clark, and that an analogous plan was given by Abel and Bloxam
in 1854,† though imperfect, yet these plans seem either to have been
little known, or neglected, or imperfectly carried out.
Some analysts
indeed of later date do not even attempt to estimate the amount of
organic matter at all, apparently despairing of reliable results. But
the process given, I believe, yields the most trustworthy results
hitherto obtainable, if properly performed.

Journ. Chem. Soc. Vol. IX. 1856, p. 51.
+ Handbook of Chemistry, 1854.

No. III.

(Published 3rd February, 1868.)

On the Reproductive Functional Relations of several Species
and Varieties of Verbasca.-By JOHN SCOTT, Esq., Curator
of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Calcutta,
Contributions towards a history of PANOLIA ELDI: McLelland,-
By Captain R. C. BEAVAN, C. M. Z. S. &c., ....

m

Page

143

175

JOURNAL

OF THE

ASIATIC SOCIETY.

PART II-PHYSICAL SCIENCE.

No. I.-1867.

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS connected with the supply of WATER from the Hooghly to CALCUTTA, Part II, being Supplementary Observations; by DAVID WALDIE, Esq. F. C. S. &c.

[Received 28th September, 1866.]

In the preceding remarks I have directed attention to the discrepancies between my own results as to the quantity of organic matter by weight in the Hooghly water and those given in Dr. Macnamara's Report, and I have also made some pointed observations on the very doubtful accuracy and unsatisfactory nature of the results generally given by chemists respecting organic matter in waters, except some of the most recent. For though I have found that the process detailed in the previous part of my paper is older than I then supposed, having been recommended by Mr. Dugald Campbell in 1856 as suggested by Dr. Clark, and that an analogous plan was given by Abel and Bloxam in 1854,† though imperfect, yet these plans seem either to have been little known, or neglected, or imperfectly carried out. Some analysts indeed of later date do not even attempt to estimate the amount of organic matter at all, apparently despairing of reliable results. But the process given, I believe, yields the most trustworthy results hitherto obtainable, if properly performed.

*

* Journ, Chem. Soc. Vol. IX. 1856, p. 51.

+ Handbook of Chemistry, 1854.

But if the estimation of the organic matter in waters is to be of any value at all as a means of judging of their salubrity, it is essential that it should be done accurately. If it is to be a fundamental datum on which Municipalities are to choose or reject certain waters for the supply of large towns, that sanitary boards are to draw conclusions from as to the healthiness of certain localities for the residence of troops or other collections of human beings, and on which medical men and hygeists are to reason respecting the origin of disease or the maintenance of health, it is unnecessary to say that it ought to be ascertained in a reliable manner.

In the case of my own results, differing so widely from those referred to, the question occurs, is there no way of accounting for them or reconciling them? One cause has been suggested to me independent of correctness of method of analysis or of accuracy in its execution, namely the age of the water when examined, that is the length of time which had elapsed since the water was taken from its source. High chemical authority has been adduced for the necessity of setting about the analysis with the least possible delay, on account of the chemical changes which the water would undergo by keeping, which would result in a diminution of the quantity of organic matter present. The validity of the caution I am not disposed to deny, neither am I prepared to deny that in my own operations this point was not always sufficiently attended to. Indeed it had not particularly attracted my attention; except as regards gaseous constituents the point had not been particularly noticed either in text-books or monographs I had seen, and the consideration that the organic matter collected by rivers had already been freely exposed to decomposing agencies, so that probably what remained was not readily decomposible, confirmed as this was by my own observations while operating, led me not to attach much importance to it. Still it appeared that there might be a change of considerable amount shortly after collection which had passed unnoticed, while afterwards the water remained less liable to change. A small change, experiment shewed, did occur speedily, but the present question did not refer to a small change but to a large one, and it was desirable if possible to ascertain to what amount it might extend. The question principally concerned the waters of the hot season and of the rainy season.

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