Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-10-26

NlIIdIt6 duu oIC h0AAASoo 40
themselves SO far as we know. So, also.
are the ordinary organic matters, animal
and vegetable, from which these salts are
formed. at least when existing in quantities
which do not render the water containing
them repugnant to the senses. 1t is not the
ordinary organic matters Of the world, de-
caying garbage, animal fragments and even
sewage, nor the nitrogen salts formed from
them that are dangerous when taken into
the system with the water supply but GER
tain morbific micro-organisms which may
accompany them. These ro-organisms,
which are the probable cause OF cholera,
typhoid and other specific diseases, are as
sociated in particular with waters which
contain nitrates and nitrites; and, indeed, IT
is not unlikely that the living ferment which
effects the nitfifcation OF organic matter
NAV itself be morbifc.
No. 2. CRY RESERvoII-This water was
clear, transparent and free from color and
odor 1t contained a slight pulverulent
sediment of an olive color, which consisted
of disintegrated organic matter and some
mir eral particles swarming with intusoriai
life, but without any algoid forms
and with few bacteria The water
Yielded residue amounting TO Ii parts
in the 100000; of these, 10 parts were min.
eral matter and organic and volatile. The
organic matter was not present in such
quantity as to give dark coloration on ig-
milton of the residue, nor were any fumes or
odors evolved during the process. Chlorine
was present to the amount OF 81 parts,
equivalent to 3.5 parts of chloride sodium
in every 100 900 parts of the water. No
nitrates were present, other than the minute
uuantity-less than DR.. Ekin's limit-usu
ally found in viyu waters. 4 trace Of
nitrous acid was present, indicating that
the organic matter OF the water was under
going change TO the inorganic condition
The free ammonia amounted to .0l3 part
and the albuminoid to OF part per loo, 900
of the water, while the oxygen required TO
oxidize this weighed .l6O part.
River waters are very variable in their
constitution. During the periods Of spring
snow.meltings andIautumnal rsinfalls, when
the stream is swollen and turbid, its waters
usually attain their maximum OF impurity.
The organic matter on the surface OF the
area of drainage is washed into the bed Of
stream and the rapidity of flow prevents
sedimentation, which is an important
purifying agent In seasons of drouth. OF
the other hand, when the water-level is low
and the current fed less by surtace-shed rain
show erS than BY tributary springs, the water
is usually less impregnated with organic
matter. From the transparency OF the
SAM lie furnished and its minute quantity
of pulyerulent sediment, the analyst should
have inferred low water level at the time
the specimen was collected. The specimen
therefore, represents the river water in it,
best condition. The albuminoid ammo.
mia distilled from the sample is not above
the q, erPge of that obtainable from good
rain waters; but the free ammonia and
chi, rine are in excess, and suggest sewage
inflow into the stream. IL the sewage were
susT etted to enter in mass at one particular
point its influence on the quality Of the wa
Ter light be ascertained chemically by de.
'ermning the free ammonia and chlorine
in ST ecimens collected above and below the
point of supposed entry; but usually such
deter limitations are unnecessary, as the
point at issue may be better determined by
a sanitary inspection of the area of drain
age Sewage is decomposed BY the infu-
ence acting in running water and leave
only its skeleton in the form OF the inorgsnic
chlorides. The presence Of the evanescent
ammonia indicates more recent contamiu
alton and less perfect decomposition
But whether decomposed or undecomposed,
sewage contamination is dangerous, not in
itself for waters polluted with sewage have
been used for ages with IMMUNITY, but i'm
that it may be accompanied By and be the
means of spreading the infection of typhoid
fever and cholera The former has long
been known TO be preventable by the use Of
water which is free from sewage contamin.
sticn and the recent researches of Koch
the c,ioIogy of the latter indicate that q
sewage contaminated drinking water sup
ply is the most active agent in its propaga
lion. Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES SMART.
Surgeon L. S. Army.
SURGEON GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, d. C.,
September 80, 1881.
Dr. James Z, Reere', Secretary Stais
Bcardcf Heahh, Wheeling, W Va:
DEAR SrR-Iour letter OF the Doth inst,
informing me OF the history and surround.
Ings Ct the water sent to me for examina
non, and marked respectively mo. |, Isl
lard Crib and mo. ,, City Reservoir, has
been received and carefully considered Ia
connection with the analytical results Oh
tanned from the waters in question In M
report on No. 2, City Reservoir, stated thu
probability of sewage inflow, and suggeste |
a sanitary inspection Of the drainage ares
as more Trustworthy means Of determI
ing contamination of this character than
is the laboratory work of the sanitary chem
1T. II tie sewage is present in large guam
ity, and is not decomposed by natural
causes, the urea present may be derecte !
AID estimated by the chemist. But urea il
speedily broken up AID laves only tn"
chIordes which accompanied it, with or
without trace Of free ANN onia to evidence
IFS recent existence. The sanitary
inspector is therefore better qua
fled in many instances, than thu
sanitary chemist to detect the presence OF
sewage in a water. Especially is this the
case in surface waters, where the water shed
and all its possible poIluting influences are
mere or less known. The authorities Of
some cities, Gas Newark, New Jersey which
are supplied by river waters that are con.
terminated BY the sewage of Other communi
ties situated higher up the stream, argue
hat there is no danger 10 health in this
contamination. Financial considerations
and the difficulty Of Obtaining another sup
ply have, no doubt, much TO do
with the existence of this op.
imistic view. The argument brought
forward to support it is the inability OF the
chemist to detect the sewage after il has
run course of few miles BUTT is well
known that it is not in the sewage per s.
that the dangers associated with sewage.
polluted waters reside. The germ or poison
Of typhoid fever may or may not be present
in the sewage, If it be not present, tn ,
sewage is harmless so far as concerns tn :
propagation Of that disease if it be presen
the water will convey the infection ofty
pfoid fever, whether the sewage is decom
posed or rot In fact there is no evidence
that the agencies which destroy ordinary or