Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-06-29
How to Have Pure Water in the Country.
FROM THE NOTE BOOK OF AN EMINENT PHYSICIAN.

towns and rural dwellings is supply of pure
drinking water. 1t was long growing con-
vlction with me, before it was made the sub
Ject OF more accurate study by OF hers, that
many of our diseases, especially those of a
low type, were due in some measure to i'm
purltles OF drinking water. | have frequent
ly traced dysentary, typhoid fever, and sum
mer diseases of severe and fatal kind, to
springs and wells which were so situated that
they must necessarily receive much surface
filth. la thickly settled portions of the
town, the old shallow wells have often be-
come the direct recipients of the surface
drainage of filth grounds, without attract
ing the slightest attention from those who
use their water. have found that in these
localities and among those who use these
waters, the most intractable diseases of the
seasons appear. Nor are the wells of most
of our farmers much purer, or more free
from the impurities of surface drainage.
The increasing prevalence.of Diseases due to,
or caused by the reception into the system
of poisOus which undergo an apparent fer
mentatiye action, is in no small degree to be
ascribed to drinking water charged with
these elements.
An Illustration of the truth of this opin-
ion is seen in the little neighborhood of Irish
Settlement Twenty families are located in
valley which forms geological basin, hav
ing an area of not more than one-fourth of
a mile An old shallow well of about forty
feet total depth, but always filed to within
ten feet of the surface. supplied the entire
population. This settlement has been made
within my recollection. The first residents
took water from large, fine spring upon
the side Of the declivity, and during that
period | never knew case Of dysentary,
erysipelas, typhoid fever, or diptheria to
occur among thems except of the most sim
pie and curable kind The increased popu-
lation led to the digging OF the well, and
every year since these diseases increased III
frequency and severity until the settlement
was threatened with determination. In
searching for the cause, [ analysed the well :
water, and found it charged with impuri-
ties. On representing these facts to the
well and obtain their water-supply from the
old fountain ou the hillside, which still re-
mained above the limits of human habi;a-
ton, and was, on careful analysis, found to
be free from all organic impurities. A main
iron pipe brought the water down to the
centre of the settlement, and from this
branch pipes conveyed it to every house and
TO every room The result is as [ had pre-
icted the diseases above mentioned have
disappeared, and this locality is justly re-
garded as one of the healthiest in the coun-
try. Aside from improved health, the con-
venience of this constant water supply to all
parts of their houses and out houses would
now, in the opinion Of the people, amply re-
pay them Cor all the expenses incurred. The
value of the lands, however,
pays them four fold substantial pecuniary
profit
1t is by no means as easy to convince peo-
pie generally Of the necessity of giving up
wells so situated as to become contaminated
as those OF Irish Settlement. But it is
gratifying to fnd that the more intelligent
classes are beginning to agitate the all-im-
portant question: Where and how can We
obtain pure drinking water p To those who
have practically studied the subject, the
question is susceptible to easy solution, as is
seen in the instance already given.
Pure and unadulterated water may be
from two sources, First, from un-
failing springs upon the hills above the level
Of human habitations. These springs can
almost always be found in the vicinity Of
towns and country residences. and so situat-
ed as to admit of easy distribution to every
residence, and to every room in the resi-
dcnee Farm houses and yards in this dis
trict can, in nine cases in ten, according to
my own observation, be supplied with the
finest quality of never failing water from
high lands near the house at very moder-
ate expense. Where open springs do not
exist, it is not difficult to discover the re-
quisite fountain head by sinking shafts
Water thus obtained must, of course, be
conveyed to the point of distribution in
pipes, and for this purpose care should be
exercised in selecting material which will
hot itself contaminate the water with delete
rous substances. Lead should be avoided
iron rusts, but is not injurious; wooden
pipes soon decay. The best pipe yet invent
ed is that known as the Tin Lined Lead
Pipe This Ripe combines all the necessary
qualities for conveying water, without any
Objectionable pecutiaritics. y combines
safety TO health, with strength, pliancy
durability, facility of bending, soldering and
making Joints" It has been thoroughly
tested by the best chemists, and they, with
out exception, regard it as fully meeting the
requirements given.
The second source of pure water-supply Is
from artisan wells, or shafts sunk 40 low as
to tan currents far removed from local sur
face drainage. These are, in general, more
expensive, for the majority Of towns can
find a good water supply having its source
on higher level,
But whether distant springs or deep wells
are found to be necessary, the expense Of
obtaining pure water should not for mo
,o,,+ ;ntartIara with tho aooomnljs jshaent q