Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1859-08-14

Water must be considered az a part of ouI
u1triment, because SO much Of it enters he
composition q our fluids and because vere.
tables are believed to draw almost the whole
Of their nourishment from this source.
Water is the natural and proper drink Of
man. It is the basis Of an other liquids and
the larger proportion OF water that enters into
their composition the more easily, in a state
Of health, and provided proper food has been
taken, are the solution and digestion Of such
food effected.
This fluid, however, is never Ct seldom taken
in a state Of purity. Even in natures Iabnra-
tory it is invariably i~mpregnatsd with foreign
substances and il is this admixture Of extra
neous matter which constitutes It's v rieties,
and renders to man a healthy OF unhealthy con
s~titution. Thus we have snow water, rain wa
ter, spring water, river water, and water from
lakes, wells and swamps, each possessing heir
individual characteristics.
We are supplied with water either from The
atmosphere, whence il descends in the form Of
rain, hail, or snow, or from the earth, which
sends il forth in springs and ~rivulets. In ID
former case, the watery exhalations drawL
from the sea and the surface Of the earth By
the suns heat, form clouds whose particles
being afterwards condensed, fall back again
IN showers. In the latter, the water which
falls on the tops Of mountains, and other fofty
situations, psBstrates the earth, and after pass
ing downwards, breaks forth at some assure
OF aperture at a distance from is source.
Wdter, CommoH-Good water is as transpa-
rent as crystal, and entirely coloTless. It has
no smell and scarcely any taste, and the
lighter it is the better.
If we compare the different waters which are
used for the common purposes Of life, they
win range as follows, viz: Rain uaier,
rel ratu, rioeT and spr.ng lratG, and lake
ss1feT.
Rain Waiu-Could this be obtained in ali
its purity, it is good water in perfection but
in all tropical climates in particular, It is i'm
pure, as il contains many saline and oily par
tieles, soon putrifes, and principally consists Of
the Joint exhalations OF animals, vegetables
and minerals, Of an Immense number and va
riety Of small insects and their eggs, seeds Of
plants, aud the like. Rain water is par.icu-
larry unhealthy when collected a. the com-
mencement Of a rain. Il is impure in places
fued with many noxicus vspors, such a.
marshy countries, an manufacturing towns,
where the fumes Of metallic. and other sub
stances, are mixed with rain. It is very in
pure in summer, on account Of the copious ex-
halstons. Rain water, when pure, holds IN
solution air, csrbonie acid, carbonate Of line,
some nitric acid, and muriat Of line.
Spring Water is nothing else than rain wa
ter, which gradually hltering through The earth
collects at the bottom Of deelivities, and makes
It's way 10 the surface. L Is therefore equally
pure with rain water, provided K does net meet
wi b sone faiuabls body o. other il It's pas
sage through the sol. But as this is Amos
The case We generally End in the pur-
est spring water, a little carbonate Of lime and
salt, and the usual proportions oscar-
acid gas. Therefore il is stu more in
pure than rain water collected in a healthy
district. and in the proper season.
Riuer Wafu.-This may be considered az
merely a collection OF spring and rain water,
possessing a degree CT purity atleass equal to
When the motion is rapid and their
siiceous sand. they are much purer than
spring water; 5sPositing during their motion
everything which was merely mechanically
suspended, and retaining nothing more than
the usual proportion Of air and caTbonie acid
gas, and q very minute quantity Of earbonsted
lime and common salt. When their beds are
they are usually opsl-eolored, in con
Of the particles Of clay which they
hold in suspension-sueh is the quslity Of the
Mississippi, which We viii speak Of hereafter.
Sn0g Water possesses the ssme properties
Is rain water, but is pursr and softer than
,prng, river OF well water.
Hail Wafu being produced In The higher re-
lions Of the atmosphere, is stll purer than
now water, from its congelations.
Vel Water BY well water is meant the
rater which is obtained BY digging deep pits,
therein there may be abundance Of water OBJ
aimed BY pumping. It is essentially the same
3 spring water, being derived from The very
anne source. but IS more liable to be imPreg-
with foreign bodies from the soil in con
Of its stsgnstion ard slow filtration.