The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1873-09-03
VcO1nuntoated-l
Lead Pipes for Water.


Ms EDIroR Dear Sirs-The following re-
marks, from the pen Of J. d. Browne, formerly
Of Washington, q. s. A., may be Of use to those
who think that water standing all night in lead
pipe is better than drawn after the water has run
while, because il is cooler. II is cooler, bat de-
cidetly more poisoaoss. as win appear from the
following quotation:
The poisonous nature Of lead when imbibed
I BY man or animal, is too well known to require a
heightened description here for it has been
proved, BY direct experiment that pure water,
containing atmospheric air, carbonic acid and
some other foreign Substances, has the power Of
ecrodiug it, and dissolves the newly formed
oxide and, that the longer the water, thus con-
tamiuaied, remains in contact with the lead, more
especially if the air has free sccess, the more lead
become more poisonous. The leaves Of trees,
and in fact, any organic matter, in state Of de-
csy. have tendency, more or less, to induce the
same effect But nver, well. or spring water,
containing in solution, l-S0, 0o0th part Of the
phosphate Of soda or iodide OF potassium, exerts
no such influence. The pipes in contact with
such water gradually become lined with a super
fetal flm Of an insoluble salt Of lead, which ad-
heres teuaciously. and no further change takes
place. Many other neutral salts act in 4 similar
manner, among which are the carbouates, phos-
pilates, sulphates, elorides, and iodides; their
power being in proportion to the relative insolu-
bility Of the compound which their acid is capa.
bic Of forming with lead. Hence, ordinary water,
which ah1unds IN mineral salts, may be safely
conducted through leadeu pipes, b,f distilled and
rain eater. or tcIfsr hat contains scarcely any
saline matter, SHek rs often occsaTs IN tcells,
spriRqs, streams and lakes. in purely granite
region, speedily corrode and dissolve portion of
lead whenever brought in contact with it. 10
all such cases, lesden pumps, cisierns, aud pipes
should be coated with tin, inside and out, which
viii render them perfectly secure from injurious
effects.
II is possible, however, that water on passing
rapidly through lesdeu pipe of moderate length,
in constant use, may not be so impregnated as
mott to be pernicious TO health 1t may be OBJ
served. that the poison of lead differs very ma
terially from most other substances called poison
GUS 1t is not what is deaomiuated az active
poison, and is not accompanied by any particular
symptoms, except when introduced into the sys-
TEN IN considerable quantities. On the contrary,
the salts of lead may be ranked among those in
sidlous substances which are taken without any
peculiarly Of taste or small, but which when
gradually introduced into the system. BY minute
quantities at time, will eventually produce para
ysis, swollen fingers and wrists, followed by that
dreadful disease, termed the painters collie"
and finally premature death
A word TO the wise is sufficient. Let the wa.
ter run from the pipes whether lead or 0airaRiSed
which is about as bad as lead, until all the water
that has been standing in it has run of. Also
40 not uss odlraRised pals for drinking ,oateT
10 stand in.
The above rules are often disregarded, to the
detriment of health. Yours truly,
Pro BoSo PuBIIco.