The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-09-23
A GREAT DISCOVERY.
A Cheap Process Whereby Water May
Be Rendered Absolutely Free or

A Cheap Process Whereby Water May
Be Rendered Absolutely Free Of
Disease Germs.
One of the greatest blessings that
could be conferred on q vast majority
Of the people of this country, to say
nothing of other people, would be any
simple and cheap means, of ready oper-
alton, which would render their drink
ing water certainly innocuous. Such q
device is needed in cities, towns and
rural districts alike. Cheap filters
are worse than none, and elaborate
ones are beyond the popular reach.
artesian wells are comparatively scarce
and no other source of water is certain.
ly above suspicion. What is wanted is
some means that can be quickly applied
anywhere and that will afford positive
assurance of its effectiveness for the
destruction of any germs OF dis
ease which may be present in the water
to which it Is applied.
The Literary Digest states, on the
authority OF the Popular Science News,
that such means have been found and
tested with results which are conclus-
i've of its efficacy Prof. Bilslik, it re-
ports, says that water may be ''steril-
lied in five minutes" by adding bromin
to it, and that the bromin may be then
nsutralized by adding ammonia. "The
river water of Boston has been tested
two hundred times" and after being
treated with bromin and ammonia it
was found that all germs of disease
were destroyed-including those Of
cholera and typhoid" A gallon Of
water, it is explained, may be sterilized
by this agency as follows: First add
to it three drops of the following solu-
ton: Water 1000 parts, bronnin 20
parts, potassium bromid 20 parts; and
then, after five minutes, add three
drops of 8 per cent. solution of am
monia." The process, it is added, sis
recommended as rapid, cheap and
effective way to sterillze drinking
water for armies, on board OF ship. in
unhealthy localities and for medical
and surgical purposes.
We commend the matter to the at
tention of chemists, physicians and
sanitary experts and authorities gen.
erally in this State and throughout
the South for their investigation. If
there is any doubt about the efficacy
of the plan, or any objection to the use
of water 80 treated, the facts should
be made known. 1t is to be assumed,
of course, that the plan would not
be published and recommended for
adoption if it were of doubtful opera
ton or injurious in any degree In oper-
alton; but it would be reassuring to
have it approved by local scientific
and medical authorities. And if it
should be tested and sanctioned by
them it should receive the widest possi-
BILE advertisement il order to its general
adoption. It is difficult to conceive OF
a discovery that would be of more SER
vice, and that would save more health,
expense and suffering to all classes OF
our people. The solutions, as will be
noted, are used most sparingly-ten
drops of the two to gallon of water to
be treated. A quart would last o year.
The device ia "chesp" enough, certain
" It takes effect in few minutes,
there is no long delay to discour-
age its use or to afford an excuse
for not using it. It shonld
be employed in every household that is
depend snt on other than artesian water
for its drinking supply. 1t will make
regions that are now waste habitable.
It should eliminate country" fever and
"malarial" fever from farms and vii
lagos that have always been subject to
them in the summer and fall. 1t should
make typhoid fever impossible of occur.
renee in any place. It is we'll worth all
the attention that can be given to it by
the health authorities to determine
whether or not it will justify the claim'
! made for it. News and Courier.