The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-04-26
Danger from Impure Water.

1t is especially in rural districts that
danger from bad water is most prevalent,
for there the long established cesspool and
barnyard are in close contiguity to the we'll
which supplies the family with drink.
After a certain lapse of time the water can
scarcely fail to become polluted, and then
follows sudden and mysterious attacks Of
scarlet fever, diphtheria, chills, intermittent
and other feYers, which are so often directly
fatal to the household Not less serious to-
the domestic animals are the swampy ponds,
the stagnant bitches, streams polluted with
drainage or the springs covered with scum
and flowing through rank vegetation
Water from such sources becomes fouled
with excrement and filed with infusoSiai
germs, The excrement from diseased
animal infects all its comrades, and if the
water flows in stream it may carry the
infection to farms many miles distant. 1t
is in this manner that the prevalent disease
among hogs, known as cholera, but which
is really intestinal fever arising from blood
poisoning, has been carried from sick herd
down stream to sicken every herd for
many miles along its course, and cattle
drinking at the stream have also heen
stricken with disease of similar type by
the poisoned water But a more wide
spread source of danger exists upon nearly
every farm at the season when cattle drink
from half dry ponds and streams. Let us
stop to examine drop of water from such
source. We take drop from near some
rank vegetation that is covered with brown
or green slime or from the yelowish brown
focks which cover the bottom or remain
suspended in the water. Under the micro
scope this water is seen to be filled with the
most active life. Scores of round star
pointed bodies go sailing about, rotating
rapidly as they go, passing through and
among crowds Of long eel or serpent-like
bodies, or others having the appearance of
tape-worms, with masses of organized lIy-
ing forms of the strangest and most sur
prising character Here in single drop
of water are thousands of living bodies,
which grow and increase so rapidly that
the generation, birth and independent ex-
istence of one of them can occur during an
hours examination. All these are forms
of life which have a surprising power OF
reproduction; so that the effect of the in
PRODUCTION of this water into the stomach
Of an animal is to fill its blood with myriads
Of constantly reproductive germs, which sap
its vitality at the fount and tax all its pow
ers of resistance. If the animal is robust
and in full health it may resist this draft
upon its vitality, and it may even be able
to turn the tables upon its assailants, and
by the very vigor of its vital force destroy
them and free itself from their presence.
But if weakened by hardship Of whatever
kind, the blood has not sufficient power to
resist these parasites and they increase with
great rapidity until they totally change its
character and make it unable to support
healthful life. And this happens with
persons apd animals alike who use impure
water. Just now when the soil IS filed
with the impurities gathescl On the surface
during the winter, and springs, streams and
wells are fouled BY them, is time when
the greatest precautions should be exercised.