The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-01-18
WATER AND HEALTH.

II C. Dodge, tn Dstro3 FSss Press.
WATER AND HEALTH.
One of the most important subjects
for the consideration of the inhabitants
of any thickly populated district is the
sanitary chemistry of waters. Particu-
larly is this important to the inhabitants
of large cities, where the death rate is
increased by number of diseases that
have been, and others that perhaps may
be, traced to the imperfect and the i'm
proper supply of water So -eati -
Good water, fresh air and sunlight are
three of natures great remedies, but they
are not advertised By our druggists be-
cause there is no money to be made.
And If they were brought more forcibly
to our notice, the chances are that we
would prefer some of the more costly
cures done up in bottles and wrapped In
papers printed with the recommenda-
dons and opinions of those who, per-
haps, are unconsciously victims to the
patent drug. We people of the nine
teenth century. would, like Naaman Of
old, rather do some great thing than to
wash and be clean.
The character of spring water depends
largely upon the nature of the soil
through which it flows. Although spring
waters may appear very clear and
sparkling, yet they may contain large
quantities of impurities held in solution.
The fact that the water flows through
earth and gravel is enough to account
for its clearness-the soil, although Civ
ingit its impurities, filters from it any
sedimentary matter.
The total quantity of dissolved impur-
ity in spring waters varies from one or
two grains to eighty or ninety grains In
one q. s. gallon. (231 cubic inches)
Waters are said to be hard or soft. Lime
salts make water hard. These lime salts
decompose the soap and destroy its de-
tergent properties
With hard water much more soap Is
necessary, as some is used up In making
the water soft It is said that the people
of Glasgow, in introducing the pure
water of Lock Katrine in place of the
hard well water, made q saving of $780,
600 per aunum. tssst
Some hard waters may be made soft
by boiling, viz, such as have bicarbon-
ate of calcium. This compound may be
destroyed by boiling. iberating carbonic
acid gas, and forming insoluble calcium
carbonate, which will settle and may be
removed by filtration. se 81 ll
This explains how certain incrusta-
tons are formed in tea-kettles. have
specimens of incrustations more than an
inch thick that were precipitated in the
above manner in the boilers of an ocean
line of steamers. o u',s
While bicarbonate of calcium produces
only temporary hardness and may be re-
moved by boiling, water is made perma-
nently hard when the calcium is there Is
the sulphate.
Organic matter is almost always pres
ent in water. There must be q distinc-
ton made between vegetable, matter
which is harmless, and the Objectionable
organic matters derived from decompos-
ing animal and vegetable substances.
These last rarely occur in spring waters.
One word in regard to living animals
and plants in water. Although these
animals when seen under the microscope
are very formidable in appearances and
fightful in motion, yet they are not OBJ
jectionable. They only inhabit very
flying influence on the water by hber-
ating oxygen
1t sometimes happens, owing perhaps
TO some popularity of the season, that
these little animals multiply to such an
extent as to produce serious annoyance.
Although our waters are perhaps free
from Objectionable animals, yet may
say that it is stated that one-sixth of the
deaths in Iceland are caused by little
animals being taken into the system.
Young leeches, contained In drinking
water, sometimes fix themselves on the
pharynx. In Algiers 400 French sol.
diers were sick at one time from this
cause.
These waters contain about the same
class of impurities that springs do. In
addition to this they sometimes contain
large quantities of purifying animal
matter on account of their too close
proximity to cesspools, privy vaults OF
sewers. These matters, while they hardy
affect the taste or smell, carry with them
deadly results to the persons using the
water. Wells in the neighborhood oi
grave yards often contain water contain
mated with animal matter from the re-
Gently filed graves. In 1908 q law was
passed in France prohibiting the digging
Of q well within 100 metres of any ceme-
terry. as si[t
Very good water is often supplied by
artesian wells when they are bored down
so as to receive their supply of water
from below stratum of soil impervious
to surface drainage. - .aAi
Lakes and ponds contain less, but the
same kind of impurities as springs.
While the water from springs all flows
through soil from which it dissolves its
impurities, much of the lake and pond
water only flows over the surface Of the
ground. ieHI ..tIse
Rivers or any rapid streams contain
generally large amount of suspended
matter which makes the water thicl
and dark in color. Very little of this
suspended matter dissolves, and it may
be removed by filtering or allowing it tc
settle.
When these turbid streams empty inte
lakes or ponds the suspended matter set
ties, leaving the lake water clear, but il
running streams there is no opportunity
for the sediment to settle.
The water of the Mississippi contains
forty grains of mud per gallon. 1t il
estimated that this river carries 400, 600,
900 tons of sediment per annum into th,
Gulf of Mexico. This mud is rich In
plant food, and produces fertile land. u
The water Of rivers is often made YER
impure by receiving the drainage of towns
ON its banks. These impurities Otter
! make the water un6t to drink. Rivers