The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-05-15
Gfie,ltihral.
Purifying and Filterins Water.

| AS the period is now approaching when
greater necessity exists for the filtration of
water than during the winter stason, anything
new on the subject deserves attention. We
learn by late number of the London En-
gtnecr that A. p. NJ lizard, of Paris, has re-
Gently secured patent for the employment
of prepared WOOL shearings as a superior ma
! tcrial for the water to pass through to he
| filtered. lie employs any common filter,
such as the portable kind so well known in
our cities. which have perforated false bot
to,n, or supporting shell Of wire gauze on
which the fltering material is laid The
wool'shearings employed by NJ. Malard are
prepared in such a manner as to render them
very durable, and not so liable to rot as the
fbrnus ering diaphragms commonly en-
ployed lie first boils his olshearings for
one hour in 4 solution of alum and cream of
tartar, then takes them out, and exposes
them to the air until they are quite cold
| After this he bcils them for an hour in
solution OF nn,galls and acetate of iron, then
| in weak solution of the carbonate of soda,
after which they are taken out, washed per-
fecty clean, dried, and are ready for use by
| placing them in stratum on the false bot
tom of the filter, and allowing the water to
percolate through them in the recess below,
| when it is drawn off clear and limpid for
domestic use.
As hard water cannot lie employed for
washing without wasting considerable soap,
simple method Of rendering it soft will be
useful to many of our readers. Take about
pint of fresh Stacked lime. stir it in a gal
lon of water, and allow the sediment to settle;
pour off the clear water. and bottle it tight
for use, because if the air is not excluded, 1t
will absorb car bonic acid from the atmos-
phere. Iialfa pint of this lime water is
added to a gallon of hard water, stirred, and
the whole allowed to settle, after which the
clear is filtered through diaphragm of Cam
ton flannel. and is ready for use. being rem
dcred quite soft. Those who reside in lime
stone districts. where the wells contain hard
water, will find this method of treating il
this water very useful for washing purposes
IL they wish to use this softened water for
drinking purposes, little lemon juice or
cider added to it will greatly improve its
taste. In the magnetism limestone regions
Of Ohio, and other places, where the water of
the wells, in warm dry weather, is liable to
cause cramps and chils when drank. especial
ly to strangers; the method described for
treating it will prevent such results. The
| fresh Stacked lime water unites with the car
bono acid of the lime in the hard water and
the whole lime held in solution falls down in
the state Of fine chalk, leaving the water
clear and soft.
| The oxalate of ammonia also softens hard
water, bnt it is not so easily managed IS the
caustic lime. 1t is made by saturating
oxac acid ia poison) in liquid ammonia, and
for this purpose the oxallc acid should he
ground fine, and stirred among the ammonia
with glass rod. A quart of the oxalste OF
ammonia will soften thirty gallons of hard
water. 1t is stirred among the water, the
sediment allowed to set lie, and the clear il.
tered. For drinking purposes, this wa ter also
requires little lemon juice or cider to render
1t pleasant to tie taste.
Impure water is oftentimes the cause of
disease. The impurities consist either of
organic or inorganic substances. 1t is be-
llevcd that the foregoing processes are capable
of removing both kinds Of such impurities
Scientific american.