Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-12-23
lAlxAlrmE WATERS AND SOILS. q
What They Contain What Shall be
Done with Them.

Professor L. w. Hilgard has contrib
uted very valuable article to the Cahi-
Vators' Guide, on "Albaline Waters and
Health" AS Los Angeles county has
vast deposits Of alkali bo.h above and
below the Sierra Madres, and located in
tho richest of soils, it becomes an i'm
portant question what to do with Il. On
this subject the learned professor saysi
"In all countries having ascdnty rain
fall, we find what are popularly known
in California as "alkali'' soils-thatis,
soils from which the rains fail to wash
out all the easily soluble matters which
are constantly being set free from the
minerals Of the soil by weathering.
Where the rainfall is abundant, these
soluble salts are currently washed into
tho ocean, and on their way to that com.
mon reservoir, through springs and
rivers, are hardly perceived by any
one save the chemist who elaboraiely
searches for them. Not SO in California
and the interior territories, where small
streams are frequently found TO be so
far impregnated with saline substances
as to become very perceptible to the
taste. Still more is this true of springs,
and especially of wells, whose impreg-
nation with mineral talts not unfrequent-
ly becomes so strong as to render them
medicinal, not only in action but in
taste. Now. medicinal waters are often
very desirable agents for the restoration
of sick persons TO health; but there are
few such, the use of which can be per-
manently continued with impunity by
persons in good health, even when that
health has partly resulted from their
temporary use. A mineral water is q
medicine as truly as any on the drug
gists shelves, and should only be used,
like physicians prescription, when
there is special reason therefor. We not
unfrequently hear it asserted that the
water in certain neighborhoods is
mighty healthy" because it has acted
favorably ON sick persons; and the popu-
lation continue its use fearlessly, under
the impression that if it cures disease, it
must alsoeact as preservative against
it. This is grave mistake, and one
that has doubtless given rise to great
deal of i'll health commonly charged to
the climate or TO Providence. If dose
of EPSON salt was effectual in curing q
bilious attack it does not show that,
to take it several times daily in
small doses, will preve beneficial, On
the contrary, such use is quite sure to
result in q Weakening Of the digestive or
gans and ultimately of the whole system,
under which the user becomes a help.
less victim to the slightest touch of ma
laria, with chills and fever, or dysentery
and the like. Then we sometimes hear
that a certain district is so unhealthy
that even the healthiest water will not
keep people well, and the settler moves
away disguised.
There are portions Of California where
this becomes vital question. Wher-
ever "alkali" comes to the surface in the
dry season, the water of wells and
springs must be suspected Of being, to
greater or less extent, contaminated
with the same Ingredients, the character
of which varies greatly from place to
place. In the San joaquin valley, from
Stockton south, the waters contain vary
ing amounts Of carbonate of soda, with
more or less of sulphate of the same
(Glauber's salt), as well as common salt,
and some carbonates Of lime and magne-
sia. Such waters, when not stronger
than about ten grains of solid matter to
the gallon, are hardly Objectionable.
But when that amount is doubled,
tripled or quadrnpled, as is not uncom-
monty the case, few constitutions can
permanently resist the weakening infiu-
ence.
This whole subject is one of those
which, both with regard to public health
and irrigation, is eminently deserving OF
full investigation on the prrt Of the
State, for the benefit of the many who
will otherwise be sure to suffer from the
habitual use of mineral waters. Nu-
merous requests for examinations Of this
character constantly come to the Agri.
cultural Department of the University;
but in reality they belong to the prov
ince Of the State Board of Health. 1t is
the more important that the subject
should be properly investigated, because
in many cases simple treatment will
suffice TO render such waters sufficiently
pure for household purposes; but what
that treatment should be, can only be
determined by chemical analysis "
Thee extracts from Professor Hi
CARDS article are deserving Of serious at
tention nn the part of our citizens, Itis
well known that gypsum when applied
to alkaline soil will neutralize the allSali
and cause the soil to be vastly produo-
tive, but the effect of gypsum upon aka
line water for domestic use has not yet
been determined.
Some of the fairest and richest por-
tions of Southern California contain
large amount of alkali, and the question
is what is the best use to make Of it.
Sugar beets will thrive in it; pear trees
will endure large percentage of it, al
falfa will use q fair amonnt of it, the
grape will take share Of it, and timothy
grass will grow rankly in it. The chem
list can make glsuber salts and soda from
it, but cannot utilize it to any great ex-
tent. What is wanted is how to use
this land for all kinds of purposes, and
what to do with the water that is some
what impregnated with alkaline matter
1t is true that it may be distilled and
made wholesome. but are there not cheap
resolvents that can be used TO ho d this
alkaline matter in such complete solution
that it will not be injurious to the health
Of the people? Distillation is not al
ways convenient or even practicable, but
if healthful, cheap resolvent can be
found which will so scatter the forces of
alkali as TO make them harmless, that
is what is wanted. There are many
resolvents of such matter, recorded in
the United States Dispensatory, but
what is wanted is something cheap and
easily obtainable. The question is
one of great Importance to the people
and is worthy of profound considera-
ton, at the hands Of scientific men. Will
some of the scientists of Los Angeles
solve the problem and promote the
wealth and the health of mankind ?
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