The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-26
IN OHIO RIVER WATER
There is Thirtocn Times as Much
Organic Poison
rs is SAID TO FOREBODE DANGER.
an Exhaustive Consideration Of the
Subject from tho Pen OF DR.. Ilazlctt
which Points out n State OF Affairs
which may well Cause the Graves,
Concern.

Rain water rs 1t leaves tho clouds is
chemically pure. In tho process OF
absorption by the suns rays, whether
IRON fresh water streams, salt water
seas or paludal districts prolific with
vegetable and animal organisms, there
occur in tho chemistry Of air, light
and heat, some occult agencies which
disengage it from all impurities.
One.half Of the surface OF our globe is
covered with salt water, yet tho rain
which TAILS upon islands in mid.occan
contains no vestige OF salt in its com.
position. Tho most careful artificial
distillation OF sea water or OF ordinary
spring or river water has failod to com.
pletely eliminate some mineral and or.
ganic constituents, traces OF acids and
alkA!is also being found when exam
ined by yoltaic electricity, clcctrolysis
being the most delicate test OF the
purity oil water. Davy asserts that a
solution of nitrate OF silver in pure
water preserved in well.stoppered
) bottle undcrgoes no change in color by
exposure to the light, but il any veg.
ctable or animal matter DO present the
metal is partially reduced and the liquid
acquires dark or reddish tint The
rapidity OF this change in ordinary dis
titled water is well known and recog-
nized by the dispensers OF this salt in
solution. This illustration is given to
exhibit the great difficulty OF obtaining
by artificial means
4 PERFECTLY PURE WATER,
and the greater difficulty OF purifying
contaminated water by artificial means.
Nature, however, in her quiet way
through evaporation and condensation,
removes all taints and detilements.
Furthermore, her process OF restoration
is continuous and universal; so there is
no cause to fear that the perennial foun-
tains OF purity which float above us, and
from which all our supplies are drawn,
will ever be lcssened in quality or guam
tity. Although having started with
pure water, it cannot DO expected that
with its attinitics, its solvent powers,
and its permeability, with almost every
thing it encounters in nature, its COM
panionship with minerals as water Of
crystnlization, its combination with
basic substances as hydrates, its prop
erty OF absorbing gases, its vast'h homes
for vaster multitudes OF aquatic life both
animal and vegetable; that it should
meet, commingle, assist and support all
these without contamination. Such,
indeed, is not the case. From the very
moment it cleaves the air carthward rs
rain, its defilement begins; in the up
per currents it takes up cosmic dust
known as the dust OF space), nearer the
earth carbonic and nitric acids, and in
4 densely populated districts terrestrial
dust and ammonia, the latter showing
the presence OF organic matter, and
causing the putrefaction to which rain
water under these conditions is subject.
Ehrcnberg states that exclusive OF inor-
ganic substances he has detected
THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY. SPECIES
OF organicforms in the dust OF the winds,
hence the pure waters OF the clouds are
fouled to some extent before they
reach the earth.
We shall leave for time considcra-
ton OF the organic pollution OF rain
water by or through the surface OF the
ground or alluvium, and hastily
glance ut the comparatively harmless
unavoidable inorganic or minera! i'm
purities OF tho upper qualifications OF
the tertiary deposit, through which
rain water by pcrcolation and lixivia:
ton meets and unites with various SUBJ
stances more or less soluble in it, or
which BY its presence cxcites chemical
action producing changes in original
elements there found. The soluble
mctalloid clements OF calcium, sodium,
magnesium, potassium ETC., united with
the different acids, comprise and con-
stitute the various mineral waters
found in all parts of the earth, and to
these they owe their virtue and medici
nal activity; they furthermore form
snever-ending combinations. each sepa-
rate and distinct in character und
Office, a mere classification, OF which
would prolong this paper indefinitely.
The object OF their introduction here is
to emphasize the fact OF the ready
contamination OF this great omniprcsent
element, that We may moro seriously
consider what may follow upon the
pollution OF streams and our further
duty as conservators OF the public
health.
Having thus hurriedly concluded the
causes OF impregnation OF rainfall with
inorganic substances, the consideration
OF
ORGANIC POLLUTION,
consequent upon the transudation OF
rain water through the surface OF the
ground or alluyium, naturally follows.
1T may be stated as O general PROPOSE
ton that organic substances in the
earth decrease in ratio to the depths
reached, surface water, shallow wells,
and ofttimes springs being more highly
y charged than water at creator depths.
In the voluntary supplyo deep artesian
wells scarce any organisms arc found.
There are perhaps two reasons for sheir
/, absence: First, the sources Of artesian
supply are from elevated mountain
ranges, thinly populated districts upon
whose ridges but little vegetation can
flourish. No organic matter is found in
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
water OF Kentucky.
Second, the chemical action OF the
! solvent salts with which deep waters are
charged is destructive to organic mat
ter. No albuminoids could possibly be
: present in water impregnated with
alum or accidulo-carbonated-c haly-
beates. Situated rs our city or the greater
portion OF it is, upon gravel, sand and
loan (all porous bodies) We may readily
! -, A...l 4l,nA- hn nnndit ions nro fn,