The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-08-24
Impure Ice.

To the Editor Qfthe Press;
The danger attendant upon drinking i'm
pure water is, fortunately, quite well under
stood by the majority of intelligent people at
the present time. Typhoid fever and cholera
make their most fearful rayages by the way
of drinking water. 1t is not so generally
known, although equally true, that disease is
often communicated by impure ice.
A few weeks ago 1 noticed in an ice cart
two pieces of ice so different in appearance
that my interest was greatly excited, and |
determined to ascertain if there was any
thing wrong about the ice delivered in this
city. l requested the driver of the ice cart
to bring me two small pieces of ice, one to be
as pure, the other to be as impure as he
could find. He brought me two pieces
weighing three pounds each. All external
dirt was washed off, and each piece was
placed in a clean vessel and allowed to melt
in the heat of the sun. One piece was per-
fectly clear and transparent and seemed
almost like piece of crystal. The other
was Opaque and very dirty, looking very
much like frozen dish water. When melted
the former appeared to be good, pure, drink
ing water, without any scum on the surface
drink of water would hesitate to drink
from it. On the surface of the other there
was thick, yellowish, dirty scum, just such
as one sees on the surface of dead pools of
Stagnant water in the woods; the water it
self was thick with what afterwards settled
at the bottom of the vessel to the amount of
nearly tablespoonful. An examination of
this sediment, with magnifying glass,
showed it to consist of partly digested oats
&ro and organic noattQr SuQb a G ic
found in stagnant pools.
1t is claimed that drinking water should be
perfectly clear, without taste, smell, scum or
sediment. The same is true of ice that is to
be used for drinking purposes. If one is
very particular to get pure water for the ice
pitcher and then puts into it such piece of
ice as the latter, a very unhealthy, as well as
unpalatable mixture will be the result. This
small ponds near Portland, from which ice is
annually cut and sold broadcast through the
city. There is no doubt but what there is
more or less sickness every year resulting
from the use of ice containing excrementi-
tions and decaying organic matter. The foul
smell noticed in refrigerators is often caused
by the impure ice rather than from
decaylng animal and vegetable food
contained therein. Ii milk is kept
in the refrigerator with such ice, it soon
absorbs enough of the poison to seriously
affect the delicate stomachs of feeble chill
dren and even of healthy men and women.
There may be alegitimate use for impure ice.
1t may be used for freezing mixtures, or in
the mammoth refrigeratOrs designed for
market men, or in any way in which the
emanationS coming from it cannot have di-
rect contact with food The greater part of
the ice retailed in this city is used by families
in water pitchers and in small refrigerators
In which the food and the ice are in the same
compartment. Only perfectly pure ice,
such as, when melted would make accepta-
bic water, should be allowed to be sold for
family use. Those who use ice take it for
granted that the ice dealers will not deliver
ice that is not fit for use. 1t is not to be eX-
pected that each family should test the ice
that is bought Therefore they should be
protected by the authorities. 1t is fact that
ice is daily delivered here that is not fit for
use that ice is cut every winter from small
ponds near the city, which are the recepta-
cles of filth of all kinds, and some of which
have no visible or suitable outlet. There are
many cases Of diarrhGa, dysentery and chol-
era morbus,-if not other more serious dis
eases-which result directly from the use of
such ice. There is no way in which people
can protect themselves from the use of i'm
pure ice. Their reliance must be on the good
faith of the ice dealer. This danger from
impure ice is not confined to this city. A few
days ago, while stopping at one of the best
hotels in New York city, waiter brought to
my room, at my request, pitcher of ice
water. The ice was very bad; and as it
melted set free small punches of filth, prob
badly and had an unpleasant odor. 1t GER
tainly was not fit to drink, and very likely
would have caused sickness.
Circumstances prevented me from examin-
ing carefully with the microscope the scum
which l found on the surface of the melted
ice procured from the ice cart. l wish to
call the attention of microseopists to this
subject because-it is one that feel sure will
repay one well for the trouble. 1t is neces-
sary to guard every avenue by which disease
germs can enter the system, especially at
this time swhen a visitation of cholera is
much dreaded. COT.