Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-04-01

Ana Its Hygienic value.
The bad quality Of drinkable water
has been for long time considered
as being the direct cause of the out
break OF many epidemic diseases ss uch
as typhoid fever marsh fever, diar-
rhea, dysentcry, and later on, cholera
etc.
In past centuries people always de-
voted special care In obtaining what
was presumed to be pure drinking
water. In all countries conquered and
settled by the Romans, these inventors
OF hydrotherapy built aqueduets, which
are sim In existence and remain as a
standing evidence OF the Immense value
attached by them to the perfect purity
of water intended for drinking pur-
poses.
In modern times water was sub
mitted TO filtration, but simply with the
object OF obtaining clear liquid, free
Of mud and other suspended matter.
People We're yet very far from having
a scientific knowledge Of the part acted
by water In public health, It Is hardly
twenty year ago when they began TO
be well nostcd on this vital question.
The works Of Pasteur and his dis
clples have thrown a wonderful light
on all matters connected with public
health The researches Of these scien-
lists clearly prove4 hat the greatest
number of so-called contagious or cpl
demic diseases were due 10 the presence
Of microbes or germs, bred In the hui
man body, thereby causing fermenta.
ton. or chemical change, capable OF
resulting In disease and death.
Mr.. Pasteur first applied himself to
the study Of the disease known by the
names Of carbuncle. pustulus fever,
etc Next, 10 sepucemia, or infectious
fever the chicken cholera, etc, every
one Of these diseases being due to
faF g4T.aafu1 rgaFpNf,F,stft he
naturally came to the conclusion that
all contagious affections were caused
by some kind Of microbes. From n
historical point Of view II must not
be forgotten that MS early as 1857 Mr.
Pasteur had discovered the part acted
by microbes and made II known to
the public at large through his works
on ferments: later on In 1864 and 1866.
No revealed the cause Of alterations, or
diseases Of wine, beer. vinegar and
sllltworms
Indeed. 1t cannot be understood how
n disease could be transmitted from
one human being to another. and then
to third one, and so on, or how the
alteration Of liquid through fermen-
tatton, could be transferred 10 another
liquid. without the intermediate action
OF some germ, subject to the laws
Of propaFatl0n, In other words. of a
germ which IL really alive II can be
conceived that a non-organic poison,
such as snakes venom, may cause
u PERSONS death, but how could IL
be admitted that the same person could
transmit the disease to thousands OF
others in succession. unless the snakes
bite held such tremendous quantity
of venom IN store as to kill thousands
OF people? II is therefore necessary,
In order to account for the effects OF
contagious diseases, to consider as
their Immediate causes, the presence
Of beings or microbes" propaRntino
themselves both rapidly and indefn-
itely,
These microbes can live in water
Tor a long time; nay, in some eases
they can multiply there, especially in
water containing organic matter In sus-
pension.
The following is an extract OF Mr.
Pasteurs speech at at the sitting OF
The academy OF Sciences, en- january
Among the microscopic organisms. 1
DO not think that any could be found
n larger quantities on the surface Of
the earth than bacteria. We only have
20 refer 10 experiments made nv Ma
f"0ro ihnn fifteen years nro on the
subject OF so-called Spontaneous gen.
Grafton 10 he convinced Of the fact
that tho dust suspended In the lower
portions OF the atmosphere, or spread
on the surface Of all bodies. aiwnys
contains come germs of these organ
iams.
'ist, The waters or rivers Is constant
~ polluted with them, and the smallest
pool of ditch water contains millions of
them; PARTICLES OF atmospheric dust
carry them 10 the ground, where they
are collected together by rain wnter Il
n state Of undoubted fscunditv Nav
the germs or these organisms 40 nav,
erfully resist destruction that they can
stand many change OF heat and
cold, dampness or dryness. and even a
temperature OF more than 2ia degrees
Fahrenheit tboilng point I'm a Neutral
or alkaline medium or culture
End Water distilled IN our iabora.
tories always contains some Germs
although In smaller quantity Than H.
ordinary water,
Srd. water distilled In Casks ahso-
lutely free Of germs Is PERFECTLY nure
from the point OF view where we stand.
that IS 10 say, free Of any gcrms az
lower Organisms"
To protect ourselves AGAINST nh the
dangers brought by drinkable water
i should be separated sre,- ali ire
microbes or Rerms which II may con-
tain. whilst retaining It's gases ana
salts. This important result mas been
lately reached. and this vital Question
y now settled FOR The benefit ~ public
health Tho problem WAS solved in
MI tasteurs laboratory. where LIQUIDS