Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-11-18

your peoples column, where every
body, irrespective OF education or po-
sition, may be heard:
MEASURE NOT OUR DAILY
WATER"
Without water injury to health in
evitably crises, either simply from de-
1lciency of quantity or more frequently
from the presence of impurities. The
first point OF inquiry in all sanitary
questions. Is that of the supply of
water. by the late chemical and MI
croscopicnl examination OF our city
water by DR. Mccormick as published
IN city paDers) who proves that the
quantity of same Is something that
any city should he proud of AID by
the Board of Water Commissioners
ana Mr.. Fl. l.. Smith that the guam
tity Is sufficient for IL city of many
times our population. In Kirkes'
Physiology article on water is as fol-
lows: Water, the most abundant OF
the proSimate principles, forms 81
large porsion( more thnn two thirds
weight OF whole body) OF the body"
II we Will draw wbter from any of the
tissues by heat, those tissues (muscle,
carthage, or tendom Will become hard.
ana all of their characteristic physical
properties arc destroyed, and what was
previously sof,, elastic and flexible.
now becomes hard. brittle and horny.
In all fluids Of the body water acts as
II general solvent, and by it's means
ABOVE, circulation of nutrit!ent matters
Is possible. 1t is the medium also in
which all fluids and solid aIiment are
dissolved before absorption, as well as
the means by which all (exccpt gas
couS) eXcretory products are removed.
All the various processes OF secretion
transudntion and nutrition depend of
necessity on its presence for their per-
Siology)
The greater part by far of the water
present In the body is taken into 1t
MS such from without in food and
drink-small amount. however, is re-
suit OF chemical union of hydrogen
oxygen in blood and tissues. Total
amount Of water taken In body every
day is about ~: lbs. (while uncertain
amount. perhaps x to x pound, is
found by chemical changes taking
place within iD. AS roughly estimated
in Kirkes' Physiology
The amount OF water in the serum
or liquid part Of BLOODY is about 900
In every LOCO (of course this varies ac-
cording to amount OF food, drink and
exercise.
Human milk (same authority con-
tains-
Water, 800.
Solids, ITO in every 1000 parts.
Stomach (gastric Juice) contains
Water, 9945.
Solids. 5.as plus in every 1000 parts.
The above few points are quoted tn
chow how much we are denendo n +
upon water. Are we, as citizens. going
to stand having our present amount
of water cut down? The smallest Of
children knows how essential to life
Is water. BY lessening the amount of
water by any system OF meters. win
cir IF
pepsias. dlarrhoeas. dysenteries.
cholera infantunl. and skin disea SEES
Notwithstanding nearly all above lis
eases are now known or thought to be
due to some micro organism, they are
more or less predisposed by irnproper
food or drinls). For 1t is a known
fact (see any practical hygiene
work on sanitatlon), that as soon as
we meter out the water. then the peo-
pie in lower walks. of life will use less
and less of that necessity. Any ply
sician in this climate will tell you how
essential baths are, both in summer
and winter. Measure or meter out
Wnter-less baths, consequently more
sickness. Have meters and you viii
see Norfolk In n worse condition. from
a healthy standpoint. Unhealthy city:
less amount of capital Will be invested
by persons away from here, who are.
IN majority of cases, versed in prac-
teal sanitation, and who will NOT live
In unhealthy places. when healthy
ones are plenty. BY All means odvn.
cate Eood water, without meters, even
IL we do have TO pay our now large
water rent and taxes, as OF old In
a few days, IL time will permit I hone
to send paper on Water N1eters
+ Uses and Abuses" =
Yours truly,
C. H. SCHLENN,