The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1883-06-23

of the rainfall, which will bring with it the
washings of the streets, etc. Taking the
total flow of the river at so, 600, 900 gallons,
and supposing that the 'vater is perfectly
pure when it reaches the town, there will
be mixture of one parJ sewage in 500
parts of clean water, for the inhabitants of
the next town to drink. Take now an in
fected liquid and add one part to 500 or even
to 5O0 900 parts of liquid susceptible of in
fection. The mixture will swarm VII low
organisms and become putrid in (sw days
provided only the conditions are favorable.
And what may be expected to happen to
the unfortunate inhabitants OF the lower
town. Simply this, that the strong and
healthy will have sufficient vitality to throw
off the poison, but the weak and sickly will
succumb, inoculated by the dejecta of
zymotic patients in the upper town. Such
a state of things seem hardly possible in a
civilized community.
The above is no fanciful picture. The
experiment was tried on the inhabitants of
an English town, unwittingly it is true, but
on that account the result is all the more
reliable. An epidemic broke out, and the
consequent investigation revealed the cause
in all its loathsome details. Fortunately
for mankind at large the relation in this
case between cause and effect was distinctly
traceable, but in the great majority of cases
this is out of the question.
There is not the least evidence to show
that foul water is rendered wholesome by
flowing so or 100 miles, indeed all expert
ments point in the opposite direction, on
account of the persistent vitality of the or
ganisms which accompany zymotic disease,
these potent germs Of corruption and
| death.
The possibility of abating these evils,
otherwise than by radical change, will
now be investigated.
1t is often asserted that as the sewage OF
| towns is treated by chemical agents before
being passed into the river, the previous
objections do not hold good. But mas
/ nF cntn
unaffected by the process, and in view OF
the great vitality of the low organisms it is
| open to doubt if the latter are destroyed by
the agents used, Even the irrigation pro
cess, the most natural, simple and effective
where the locality is suitable, is liable to tht
serious objection that part of the sewage
may flow direct to the river through acci
dental channels, without filtration through
the soil.
Putting, however, all this aside, thos,
who are practically acquainted with th,
subject are perfectly aware that no sewer
age system yet carried out (even though it,
cost be reckoued by millions sterling) cal
cope with storm-water. AS neoessar,
consequence the bypass must be erened
the sewage allowed to flow direct into tn,
stream, and the inhabitants of the town be
low regaled with more than ordinaril,
foul beverage for the next few days. Thi
again is no fanciful statement; it can b.
seen in operation more or less frequently al
over the country.
Filtration is another remedy put forwar,
as infallible by those who have not graspe,
the subject. How can filtration affect sub
stances dissolved in water and as for th
minute organism found in putrescent bod
les, they could pass hundred OR thous
and abreast through the interstitial space
of ordinary sand, as used for this purpose
In the authors opinion, and probabl
/ also in that of most people who have care
! fully and dispassionately considered the sui
ject, the publication of diluted sewage to
, sufficient extent to render it safe for die
f etic purposes is an impossbilty, putin
, sentiment aside altogether, Indeed, tn
mere idea of one community drinking til
diluted sewage of another would be almos
uncomfortable, were it not unfortunately
fact, and one with which the alarming il
crease of ca cerous diseases of the stomac
9 and intestines is, in all probability intin
: ately connected.
/ The present methods of water analysis al
quite capable of showing if contaminatio
has taken place. at all events in the major
| ty of cases; but as to whether that contain
= nation is. injurious to health or not, there
/. no knowledge, and consequently the on
q safe course in the authors opinion is to +