The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-11-28
Dr.. Van qelburg Holman Gives
Valuable Information on the
Subject OF Water Contam1-
nation.

10 :epiy 10 tDe 6ooSe commuoieatlOn,
which was published in the Daily Item OF
Ias, roarsday Dr. vsn Telbprg Hofm.n has
prepared the sobjoined ANSWERS to the ques-
tdens asked:
Editor the Sumter Daily ltem !: Referring
10 communication in Thursdsy's Sumter
Daily Item, respectfully submit the following
answers to questions aubmitted to physieiaos.
Respectfully yoere,
Van Telburg Hoffman
I. The contamination OF wells and pumps
e caused by the products Of animal and veg
etsSle decomposition, and the presence OF
specific bacteria causing costagious diseases.
fbe who!ssomeoees of the water is in sersely
peaportio2al to the degree of saturat'on of
tbs coil By the products of decay. i, has
been foupd by experiment stat, when organic
matter, largel, diluted with water, is allowed
20 percolate through soil, it uodergoes gra-
dnsi decomposition in the presence Of certain
mioute organisms and nitratea and uitrites
are formed at the expense OF ammonia and
eskes organic combinations. If however, the
soil ia saturated With organic matter in ex.
cess aud 10 q state of conceotration, putre-
faetion takes place, and the conversion of to-
organic matter into nitrstes and Ditrites is
ressrded Hence, sbe drainage of diluted
sewage throa9h stratum OF porous soil, not
already saturated with pntrefying matters,
essn il the liquid should reach. q yell used
as q source OF driuking water, may DOT have
an especially bad signi6cance. as it 10 posi-
hle that By the time ths li91id portion OF the
sewage reaches the we'll, it msy have arrived
at point when it could truthfally be termed
Iase water The purifi:atiou power Of the
coil cannot be relied upon il the supplytof
sewage or other anima, or ~szeitsble impure
tns ID too abundant or if speeIfc haesesis Of
contagious diseases are present
T. (s.) DeraBgements Of digestive or
4ans from wate. eootsmioated with decsying
esxaDie matter. 70 Diseases due to the
presence Of specific nacteria ss typhoid fever,
eholera. dysentery, or perhaps yellow fever.
nalsria, scarlet fever, diphfheria.
Water which may be unit for drinking or
other domestic purposes through the presence
Of organic de.ritls OF various kinds, sewage,
deconposing aoimel or vegetable matter, re-
fuse from manufacturing establishments may,
sowever aoelean, not bs prejsdicial to heslth
DE-. Rmmerieb, Of Munich. 10 bis prAeti-
cal test oy drinking daily from ooe 70 two
pio.s Of very 6ltby water, in fact, nothing
less than sewage which was both chemically
asd physically exceedingly impure, seems to
SHOW that the products Of auimal, vegetable
decomposition taken lato the body with
6finkiox water free from specific bacteria cao-
not be looked upoo ss csstaialy harmful
Ill. 20. Water of good taste, odor and
tracspareacy ns5 contain qusosisies OF min
srai aud organic matter OK even living o1-
gsnisns, ss bacteria and ovs OF tape worms
rot visible TO lie naked eye
~. 1t is 3 much disputed proposition
whether poisoDs sueh as cause syphoid, chol.
ere, etc originate de-novo in cess roois
sewers. aud soil polluted by the products OF
animal or vegetable decomposition. Bot ooee
carried there from typhoid defec,ions from
pre-e1ia,iog csses, the germs develop in the
cess pools sewers aud soil, are carried IN the
sewer air FROM place 20 place, undergo devel-
opmens in sne soil, whence they are carried
through the wasls Of leaking cess pools, as.
ceod through boesss with the ground air or
1drain into wells and pollute the drinking
water.
For this reasou alone, i. not for Others. the
nse Of dry wells ahould be discontinued