The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-04

BAB WATER AND THE WESTERN FEVER
A correspondent writing TO us from the western
part of this State, says he has lately been devot
ing some time to the study Of the causes offever
in the western parts Of our country. The first
inquiry he made was, "What substances are
contained in the waters at the West that rend r
them so unhealthyW And what substances
would purify itl He believes that the prevailing
substance is ammonia, which is produced by the
decomposition of vegetable and animal sub
stances, and i GA that water will absorb in
considerable quantities. lie believes that filter
ing the water through substances for which the
gas has an affinity, will be the means Of purify
ing IL and making it healthy.
There can be no doubt of the fact that bad
water is the fruitful cause of many diseases. IL
has generally been remarked that the people who
inhabit districts where the water is pure, enjoy
good health. and exhibit the same in their coun.
tenances. There can be no doubt that water
containing ammonia is injurious to health. In
the East Indies il is customary TO boil the water
intended for drinking, and then expose IL TO the
atmosphere until it coos. The ammonia, being
very volatile, is expelled by boiling. Lime is an
absorbent Of ammonia, and so is plaster Of paris
and charcoal. Il is wonderful how small
quantity Of any deleterious matter, in food or
wnter, causes disease but the atmosphere is as
often, IL not oftener the element whereby disease
is communicated to the frame. Were we liv ny
in the West, and suspected that the water we
used contained deleterious substances, we would
filter il through sand and clay, and perhaps som
charcoal The charcoal, unless employed az the
upper layer, carries down some Of its particles
and discolors the water, but this can easily be
prevented, and the water will appear like crystal
Filtered water should always be dropped from
some height and exposed to the air before IL is
drank this lis to absorb air, for, without air, il
has rain.watery taste. We believe that too
little attention Is paid 10 the purifying of the
water that Is rscd for cooking and drinking,
and were more attention paid to the purifying
of IT, some places that are now famous for some
diseases, would soon know nothing about them
but as things that were Scientific American.
TRINITY CHuRcH.--We notice that prepare
tons have been made for the immediate cree.
ton of the two towers on Trinity church at the
corner of Third and e streets. We arc inform
ed by DIR. JoHN CAMERON, who superintends the
operations Of the worknen who are employed
to build these towers, that they will be OF an
octagonal shape, each tower terminating in a
spire. A powerful capstan has been erected on
the street, fronting the church which will be set
in motion to-day, with horse power, to elevate
the blocks Of Seneca stone to their right posi-.
ton in the towers. II is calculated that in ten
weeks or three months at most, the towers will
be raised and the edifce completedin every re-
spect When this takes place there can be no
doubt that Trinity church will be one of the
most imposing church ediices in this city; and,
surrounded as tits, and will be, with noble, lof.
ty, and SPACIOUS buildings, both of public and
private character, il will present to the eye Of
every beholder on object of general interest and
admiration.--Nat. InteH