A lecture entitled “An Analysis of Water,” was given by Dr, J. Mitchell Wilson.

The lecturer sketched an outline of the methods of water analysis usually employed by chemists, more especially dwelling on that devise by Wanklyn and Chapman, now generally known as the ammonia process. In this the nitrogenous organic matter is converted into ammonia by suitable oxidizing agents, then distilled and estimated by Nessler’s list.*

This test is so extremely delicate that one part of ammonia in ten million parts of water can easily be detected. It is true that chemical analysis cannot absolutely distinguished between harmless and virulent organic matter in water, but, by an intelligent study of the surroundings of the source, coupled with the application of tests for other impurities which invariably accompany organic contamination, a fairly sound opinion as to the value of water for drinking purposes may be formed. Dr. Wilson drew attention to the importance of the microscopical and physiological examination of water, especially alluding to the labours of Dr, Angus Smith in the latter department – labours which had opened out a new and highly-important field of research. The lecturer then performed a complete analysis of a sample of water, which included the estimation of total solids, chlorine, free and albuminoid ammonia, hardness etc. The tests for lead, iron, nitrates and nitrites were also shown and explained. 

* [A correction was later added to the cutting which deleted ‘list’ and inserted ‘test’.]