The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-09-09
THE PACIFIC
Commercial AoOertlsrr.
SATCRD4Y Y. SEPT. ..
The Physiological Effects OF the Water
we Drink.

some interesting experiments a btN Aa1
in France by NJ. PIpillon, with a view to test
the action of certain phosphates administered IN
distilled water, on the bony structure OF various
animals. These were virtually experiments on
artificial drinSing-waters, and they prove that
mineral matter in dilute solution is capable Of be-
ing assimilated By the body, the structure of
. which may TINS be materially modified Indi-
.ree;ly they show that the effect Of altering the
chemical composition of the water supply OF a
community may involve questions OF great impor-
lance to the physical development and health OF
its Members. TIE Very composition of our
bones is affected by the quality Of the water we
drink. If the :Tater contains lime, that substance
viii be taken up and will appear as phosphate Of
lime in the bones il it contains strontia or mag
nesia, these will appear as phoshates of strontia
OF magnesia. If the water is deficient in mineral
matter, there will be n corresponding deficiency
in the constitution of the bones. Ii is said that
such instances have occurred in Holland, in dis
tricts where the inhabitants can obtain only rain
water for drinking purposes. This fact, prob
ably combined with an absence Of lime IN their
food, occasions n softening and distortion of the
bones Of the body. by varying a water supply
it might be possible 70 alter the physical organ
ization of a population and in future ages, from
7 the examination of the bones of bygone genera
tons, the character of the water they we're in
the habit of drinking might perhaps be deduced.
Much attention has oflate been directed 10
organic impurities in drinking-water, but those
/ of an inorganic nature have been almost over
looked, although, as was pointed out in a paper
read by Mr.. w. j. Cooper at the last meeting OF
the British Association. serious mischief has in
many instances resulted from the incantious use
of deep spring waters. At Hendon, England,
an Artesian well was bored 10 supply water for
some valuable horses which were being reared
there. The water was bright-looking, pleasant
to the taste, and quite free from any organic i'm
/, purity the ioals, however, that drank it soon
died, and the whole stud were seriously affected
with diarrhoa. Professor Way, one of the
Royal Commissioners of Water Supply, analysed
the water, and it was found to contain sulphates
of magnesia and soda in considerable quantity.
On disseminating the use of the water the disease
was arrested. a similar case occurred at Rugby,
but in that instance human beings were the
sufferers. The water from an Artesian well
free from organic impurity was hailed with salts
faction on that account the community, how
ever, were attacked with diarrh0ca caused by the
sulphate Of mangnesia, or EPSON salts, in the
water, and the supply had to be discontinued,
as there is no known method of freeing water
from sulphates. In the paper to which we have
referred above, Mr.. Cooper remarks
The opinions of some leading authorities on
water supply have undergone considerable mod
ifcation recently. A few years ago DIR. Frank
land returned all solid matters in water as i'm
purities, in the analyses he made. | was there
fore much surprised to hear him recommend as a
supply to a district containing IA 900 inhabitants
n water proved by analysis to contain 12i grains
of anhydrous sulphatc of magnesia per gallon,
equal to 70 grains per gallon OF EPSON salts.
This evidence was given last session before a COM
mittee of the House of COMMONS DIR. Frank
land stated that it was absurd to say that a water
containing such n quantity of EPSON salts could
be Objectionable from 4 dietetic point of view
Fortunately for the health of the people the par
liamentary committee refused to allow the dis
trict to be supplied with the EPSON salt solution.
The water Of st. AIMS Well, at Buxton, the
slightly p~urgative quality of which is considered
as one of its merits, contains an amount Of mag
nesia equal to 13 grains of EPSON salts per gal
lon. 1t is known that goitre and other throat
and glandular affections, and even idiOcy. have
hnnn attributed TO Inorganic salts in drinking
water. We know that the human system is
easily deranged by a change in the drinking
water. The spa and chalybeate waters at the
favorite places of resort have been renowned
for ages for their medicinal virtues. If the entire
organic structures of the human body are liable
to alteration when excess of mineral matter is in
troduced into the system, it is essential that
healthseekers at these medicinal springs should
place themselves under medical supervision,
And one of the first considerations in the inaugu.
ration of a water supply should be to insure n
perfect freedom from excess ofany mineral except
those comparatively harmless ingredients, chloride
of sodium and carbonate Of lime
In the discussion which followed the reading
Of this paper, several leading sanitary officers
give the results of their experience, which was
almost unanimously in accordance with the views
presented. 1t appeared to be the general opin-
ion that the importance Of the subject had not
been Justly appreciated. 1t is not enough that
water should be free from organic impurities it
must also be free from any mineral contamination
that would in course of time act iniuriously on
those who constantly use it.