The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-05-11
imPuHE WATER.
Epiden,ics TraeeaIsIe 70 the poIlufsd Con-
tiitian Of Private WaI1s.

Epfdemics TraeeafsEe 70 the Poiiufsd Con-
dition Of Private Wells.
II II common belief that when d
well Is dug pure spring water, oozing
from the ground. Is obtained; that In
true In the case of artesian wells; but,
although possible. Is rarely the case
with ordinary surface wells, and under
this name are embraced all wells not
more than fifty feet deep. The water
obtained from these wells In merely
the water which has fallen on the sur
face of the earth in rains. aud has per-
eolated the soil and become collected
In this excavation. II IL called ground
water. Even granting that some Of
the water may be spring water. some
Of IL must be the resslts Of drainage.
and the amount of this viii depend
upon the rainfall. and the character
of the soil. A moments reflection will
show that wells must act as drains to
the surrounding soil just as wet field
may be drained by digging one or more
trenches into which the soil may drain
and be carried away. so. when deep
trench or well Is dug. the wafer In the
surrounding soil will necessarily tend
to drain into II. This ii not only mat
Ter of reasoning, but matter II expe-
-ience. The following ease Il reported:
In consequence Of the escape Of the
contents Of barrel Of petroleum.. or
benzine, which had been buried, cir
cult Of wells. sixty feet below. and two
hundred and fifty or three hundred
yards distant. became so affected that
the occupiers Of fifteen houses. contain
ing eighty-two inhabitants. were for ten
days unable to use the water for cook
/ ing or drinking. When wells afe
FIRST dug In rural districts. tho
water Is pure and may remain
% for long time. Fortunately, the
soii possesses some power OF purifica-
ton. and although the water may re-
ceiye poiluting matter on the surface
If the ground, some of this matter il
detained. mechanically. by filtration.
aud other portions may be decomposed
and taken up by growing plants and
trees. Bnt this power OF the soil Is
limited. When the sources of pollution
are constant and numerous. as in
cities. from privies, cesspools. sIop-.
Walets uHhi anu tite GaAHuTb 0A QBfAaeS-
tic animals. and. sometimes. from
Ieaky and imperfect sewers and
the soil becomes filth sodden.'
tiHh is carried deeper and deeper
finally it appears in our drinkin
ter. Sanitary literature il
instances of the outbreak
epidemics of diarrhma. y,
fever and cholera; which
been traced to the drinking of
water thus polluted; and. even tho.
the city may 90 through one or nora
years epiienlies. ID = not . pleasant
thought for the inhabitants 10 indulge
in, that they are drinking the drainage
II their priyies and cess pools. And
yet they must realize the idea that their
wells are. and must be. drains for the
surrounding grounds. with al its com
tents that are capable Of solution in
water. science can not tell as that. i'm
given water is charged the poison OF
a definite disease. but it can tell us that
il has received the product Of tecaying
matter from animal sources. and. again,
that such water is dangerous to health.
DR.. Il. r. Mack fn Sanitary Monitor.