Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-08-31
POISONOUS WATER.
AN IMPORTANT sUBJEBT FOR THE CON-
SHERATON OF THE CITIZENS OF
" OODSTOCK.


SHERATON OF THE CITIZENS OF
oODsTocK.
Suspectng tho character OF the wat,r
Ia some of our wells, samples Of the water
from two wells, one in front of the re- J.
dence of Capt. Hugh Logan, and ore in
the Spring Hollow near the Reformed
church aud the residence of the Misses
Teller were sent to Prof Zerr, the city
chemist Of Stanton for examination. He
reported that "the water In tho Logan
well Is exceedingly dangerous and any
case of typhoid fever could be directly
traceable TO that we'll 1t is full of pois-
onous organic matter, probably animal
matter, which is due to local cause, |
think. The authorities should close the
well and have the water purified. Lime
may have the desired effect. The Teller
we'll contains very little organic matter,
those who are not accustomed to it. a
healthy person would not take typhoid
fever from this water, but person whose
system is empaired would be endangered
by constantly drinking it," evidently
the cause of the organic matter in the
Logan well is local, but do not think it is
in the Teller we'll. A complete analysis
of the water in either we'll is unnecessary
and useless"
On being informed that the Logan well
had been examined and that no animal
matter was found, he said at may be in
the mud, if you do not find any mud, then
the stream is fed by graveyard OF some
thing of that kind The probability is
that there is quantity of mud in this
well which has been accommodating for
forty years.
DR.. j. n. Barney, of this place, who has
had considerable experience in analytical
chemistry, on last Monday and Tuesday
analysed the waters of six Of our wells
and the public cistern near the Foundry.
He found lime ard magnesia present in
all. Sulphates in Court House, Anderson's,
Saml. Byrd and Foundry Cistern. Phos-
hates in Teller. Nitrates marked IN
Court House, Kooutz aad traces in others.
Nitrites found In Court House, Koontz,
Byrd and Anderson.
Organic matter heaviest III Koontz, next
in Court House, some also in Teller and
traces in others; very slight in Byrd.
Result of analysis would place waters as
follows
The Saml. Byrd well is best.
" Teller " d" fair.
" Ramey
Foundry Cistern slightly suspicious
" Anderson well
" Court House we'll very suspicious.
Koontz we'll
Confrmatory tests of the Logan well
places it also as very suspicious. Chlo-
rides mean little unless heavy. "a very
small amount of nitrites is sufficient to re-
move water into the suspicious class"
Manual of Practical Hygiene, Parke's.
Sulphates and Phosphates mean little
unless in large amount. Organic matter,
very suspicious.
From the above it is readily seen that
nearly all our wells demand immediate
attention. Wells that have not been
cleaned for forty years are very suspicious
without analysis, but when analysis shows
that the water is absolutely dangerous,
they should be thoroughly cleansed at
once. The probability is that there is
large amount of mud and other foul sub
stances in the bottom of all these wells
which render the water unfit for animals
to use, much less human beings Gangs
Of men should at once pump out the water
of the Logan, Court House and KOOntz
wells and the wells should be thoroughly
cleansed. 1t has been fully demonstrated
in many communities that wells, at best,
are dangerous, bnt foul wells with no
effort to keep them clean, are exceedingly
dangerous. The Court House well is ex-
posed to toads and other foul matter,
worse than toads, and the water should
not be used at all until the well is
thoroughly cleansed end protected from
the admission of foreign substances.