Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-04-22
Sanitary Impurities.
By R. t. TRAIL, NJ. D.

that poisonous drugs are wholesome medi-
cines, so long may we expect them TO be.
lieve ard teach that impure water and
adulterated food are better than the clean
articles These notions seem to run 70.
gether as drugs and death One who
studies Sanitary Science" from the Book
of Nature finds it hard to comprehend the
mysteries Of medical science aud the heal.
ing art, as viewed from the orthodox
standpoint. In the exercise Of it, CON-
mon sense, and 10 view of drunkenness
and its consequent vices and crimes all
over the land, the world supposes that al.
cohol is a very disastrous as well as al
exceedingly devastating agent; but med
ical books, written by the "highcst author
ity," and physicians of the greatest re-
pute, assure US that the thing is not only
vitalizing, but actually good food ! We
look on tobacco-using as the most filthy and
degrading habit to which human being
ing was ever addicted. And when we
tell the chewer smoker or snuffer that
he "smells awful" he quotes experienced
doctors aud medical journals to prove that
the filthy weed, so far as being stiukius
thing, is really hygienic, and if Loo food
itself, conservator of food
We are led into these dirty reflections
by reading the report of the sayings OF
several learned medical gentlemen Of New
York, on the occasion Of recent meet
ing of the American Public Health Asso.
citation in that city. Among the various
papers, wise and other wise, which were
presen,ented, was one read by Professor
Chandler on "1hc Sanitary Chemistry of
Waters" In criticising this document,
we have to say that the title is very alb.
su.d to begin with, as there is no more
chemistry, sanitary Or insanitary, In water
than there is bicarbonate of soda 10 meta.
physics. Water is water that is to say,
water is fluid composed of certain pro.
portions of oxygen and hydrogen. The
"chemical elements which arc found in
water are irvaribly foreign ingredients
aud have no more TO do with water. as
acater, than ipecac or common salt has to
do with victuals, when accidentally or iu-
tentionally y mixed with it. These foreign
ingredients are simpiy poisons or impure
ties mixed with water, or held in solution
by it, and never chemically combined
with It, The following extract from the
Professors paper will show in what di.
rection his ideas of sanitary chemistry
are drifting:
There are many kinds Of impurities
in the open wells, either mineral deposits
or refuse from the drains. Impurities in
the pond waters are ID solution. They
are few and not greatly Objectionable.
Rivers are generally turbld, owing to the
suspended impurities which they contain.
The waters for drinking sometimes contain
special impurities. At Schenectady and
Boston it was shown at one time that the
water there drained the cemeteries and
contained phosphorus. Recent writers
claim that water is healthier for having
its proportion of limo and magnesium, 1t
is questionable whether our drinking wa.
ter ever contained enough mineral matter.
The organic impurities in water. such as
animals and plants, are by no means OBJ
jectionable. On the contrary, plants
really purify the water. Parasitic worms
have been introduced into the body by
their presence in drinking water, but it is
very rare, and the presence Of these or
ganic Impurities is seldom Objectionable
What in the name of filth as objection
able, if impurities are not? Doesft ne
cessariy follow that because parasites
purify tho water, We should drink the
parasites? Would it not be better to
filter out the parasites, and then drink
the pure article? Then no parasitic pur.
iicatlon would be necessary in our stom-
achs and bowels. Does it follow that be.
cause hogs are scavengers, we should eat
them ? This is as contrary to Hygienic
Law as it was to the Levitical code.
We have read in some medical book,
and we have noticed in many invalids,
that Impurities, especially mineral ingred.
ients are the common causes of several
distressing ailments. But, says Professor
Chandler, 'Our drinking water never
contains enough Of t." Then why not
supply our Atlantic cities with sea-water
which is saturated with it? Why bring
the pure Crotop fifty miles through rocks
upder mountains, and over rivers, wher
a few pumps along the North and Eas
|. rivers would furnish an abundant supply
!, Of water as impure and miperalized al
} any drug doctor could desire ? Or fth
5 would be too much Of u good thing, wh,
4 not employ Board of Pharmacologan
todrpp and mincra1iyo tho water We ar