Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-08

LOndon's Medical Men Say That It Con
pares Favorably With That Of London.

LOndon's Medical Men Say That It Com
pares Favorably With That Of London.
The report Of the commissioners sent
by the London Lancet. the leading medi-
cal journal Of Great Britain, to make an ex-
animation regarding the sanitary condition Of
Chicago, with a view to the better information
Of British visitors to that city during the COM
ing worlds fair, states that all samples Of Chi
cago river water examined showed an appalling
pollution by animal refuse Unfortunately
mixed with common sewage.
The pollution begins at the mouth Of the
Chicago river and increases until the maximum
is reached in the vicinity Of the stock yards
near the southern branch Of the pumping sta
ton, where the filthy conditions defied descrip-
ton. At certain points the condition of the
Chicago river was worse than that of crude
sewage. The smell was vile and nauseating.
The temperature Of the Chicago river water
varied from thirty-three degrees Fahrenheit at
the mouth Of the river to forty-four degrees at
the stock yards. while the temperature of the
air did not exceed twenty-four degrees. 1t
was safe therefore to conclude that the condi-
ton Of the Chicago river in summer would be
moro abominable.
The analysis OF the water of Lake Michigan
failed to furnish any distinct evidence Of seri-
Gus pollution.
In dealing with the domestic supply the re-
port says that it is desirable to filter lake water
for drinking, since not single sample OF the
ordinary supply is entirely free from sediment,
which in the majority OF instances consisted of
vegetable debris.
Numerous organisms, chiefly Of the kind
peculiar to pond water. were found. In sample
No. 80, representing the water supplied to
north side residents. dead water deas we're
found floating. Indeed, as regards suspended
matter or deposit, the samples taken in the
mains were quite unsatisfactory Is com pared
with the samples from the lake.
For instance, the lake samples exhibited q
remarkable freedom from brown coloripg COM
pared with those from the mains, touches of
brown coloring in the water being probably
due to contact with sediment which had not
improbably accumulated from time to time in
the mains.
With proper and efficient filtration, however,
the report says, this was nothing to suggest
that the water was not well suited for domestic
and diesetic purposes, and residents Of Chicago
OF filtration. Two samples had been through
Pasteur filter. nevertheless these were
bad. il not worse than the ordinary
unfltered supply. The explanation of the
anomaly was not far to seek. 1t was customary
apparently at all seasons Of the year to float
pieces OF ice IN the drinking water, but no dis
erection was exercised in the choice of pure and
safe ice. The examinations made distincly in
dicated impure ice melted in the water as fl
trarion. The ice OF the lake naturally
contains matter suspensed in the water at the
freezing, and also Particles floating on top of
the water at that time. There is no doubt that
the good effected by the filtration il nullified
by inserting ice Of such quality.
1T may be said truly" continues the re-
port, that the water supplied from Lake
Michigan il good throughout, and provided it
ID effectively filtered and boiled there would be
NO chemical objection to its potable uss. In
dsed, IL compares very favoFably with that sup
plisd to London"