Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-29
Rain or River Water.

Rain or River Water.
INFUsIONs-HE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAB:
Some years ago various chemists and ply
sicians in London and Paris made many and
careful experiments to test the comparative
value Of cloud or earth water in making infu-
sions of coffee and tea, as well as tinctures Of
herbs; and they proved, beyond question, that
at least one-fourth less Of coffee or tea would
make beverage Of the same strength, when
using cistern water instead Of river water;
while it was also Of decidedly better flavor the
delicious aroma Of those drinks being much
better preserved by the rain water The same
fact has likewise been proved BY other expert
mentors. 1t Is also well known that druggists
use rain OF distilled water to make tinctures or
teas of herbs, as the impurity Of river and well
water are unfavOrable for that purpose. The
writer of this well knows, from frequent trials
that much richer and more pleasant tea and
coffee are made by the use Of cistern water, and
more economically, less quantity being required
for the same strength of infusiOn-by at least
One-fOurth weight.
1t is also well known. from various expert
ence that where rain water is uniformly used,
for drinking and culinary purposes summer
complaints and other troubles of the stomach
and bowels among children and adults, are far
less frequent and fatal. We have, in more than
one locality, seen this fact proved among fam
lilies who used only cistern water for all pur-
poses in the household.
Some thirty years ago, when the cholera pre-
vailed with severe malignity in the Mississippi
river country, it was distinctly observed that the
disease was much more prevalent and fatal
among the inhabitants who lived on the ''bOt-
TOMS near the river, where only earth water
was used, than among those residing on the
high bluffs, where cloud water was almost ex-
clusvely used, as it was difficult to obtain any
other. This was notably the fact at Galena, ILL.,,
where portion of the population reside high
up on the bluffs, where they are compelled to
depend upon cisterns to supply needed water
for all purposes, while other portions Of the
people lived down near the river and used well
or river water. About that time the writer
spent most OF two years in that locality, and
learned the fact that very little fatality resulted
from cholera and summer complaints among the
people living on the Bluffs
Similar testimony and statements were pub
lished from physicians in other river sections as
well as from the st. Lawrence river and from
places in the eastern world Thorough fltra-
ton Of all river and hydrant water through
proper sand and charcoal filterers proved to
render that water more healthy for drinking
and culinary purposes spoonful of bOrax
stirred into the bath-tub will render river water
more healthy and pleasant for purposes Of ablu-
tlOn, and some persons always observe that
preparation, when they can, for bathing.
But still the fact remains that pure cistern
water is the most healthy, makes the best infu-
siOns of tea and coffee, is the best preventive of
stomach and bowel diseases and IN cities is the
more profitable and less vexatious than where
''water-wOrks" and hydrants are relied upon
Every lot and household will find large advan-
tage and convenience, and comfort too, by hav-
ing deep, cemented cisterns and proper con-
ductOrs to collect and retain the water that
falls on the roofs of the buildings, as has been
suggested in previous articles on the subject
published in The EVENING STAR from time to
time during the season. D. S. G..
A BabelOnian Complaint.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
Dickens wrote: "There is a repose about
Liant street that sheds gentle melancholy DER
the soul"
wish he could have had apartments fronting
on 18th street northwest, anywhere from the
avenue to F, for Just one night, say between 10
and waking up time. Every old cart, hack,
and rafting, creaking night-lner, seems to
swoop down on this devoted street with the
unerring instinct of fate All is good order on
THIS side of the avenue but the Gathering hOofs
of the wary policemans horse adds here to the
general racket. Like the approaching and
receding drum corps in the "Spanish retreat"
We hear. at first family, then furiously, these
fiends with the carts, as they make straight for
this b}Ock-stOned mecca, Of a bedam OppOr-
tunity. Dickens might have again written,
under this Inspiration: 'There is noise and
unearthly din about 18th street northwest at
night that casts harrassing sensation DER q
restless, tOrmented SOUL" BABEL.