The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-07
WATER is 0. K.
Prof. LOvewelI Analyses Vine
wood Water for State Journal.
Finds That 1t is Better Than
Topeka City Water.
80 TYPHOID THERE.
Evident That Suspicious of Pic
nickers Are Groundless.
Comprehensive Report Showing
the Facts in Detail.

V1newood park drinking water, which
was suspected of causing a large num-
Der of cases Of typhoid fever among the
members of a First Congregational
church picnic party, has been chemical
ly analyzed by Prof. ]. T. Lovewell of
this city, and is found to be exception
ally good and pure. 1t ranks much
higher than city hydrant water.
Prof Lovewe1l finds the percenta q of
free ammonia to be .012 parts in one
million, and of albuminoid ammonia
.o5S parts in one million.
Prof. Edward Barlow, who analyzed
the Topeka hydrant water drawn July
6, reported the free ammonia to be OLA
and albuminoid ammonia TO be 130. The
Topeka hydrant water therefore con-
tains twice as much albuminoid am
monia as does the Vinewood park we'll
water.
Prof. Lovewells report on Vinewood
park water, made for the State Journal,
is as follows:
To the Editor of the State Journal:
The water sent by you from vinewood
park has been carefully analyzed by me
with the following results:
Total solids per gallon 1870 grains.
This solid residue. left on evaporation,
is composed of calcium bicarbonate,
Calcium Sulpndle ana SOQlum chlOr1Qe,
as pricipal constituents. with magne-
SUM salts, silica and organic matter in
very small quantity.
1t was not considered important in
this investigation TO determine the ex-
act weight of each of the above con-
stituents.
In testing the potability of the water
the most important point is the amount
and condition of organic matter, dis
solved in it. Applying the usual NessloI
analysis I found:
Free ammonia 0O12 parts per million
albuminoid ammonia 0.053 parts per
million.
An excessive amount of free ammonia
weight point to sewage contamination
While albuminOid ammonia indicates the
presence of soluble nitrogenous sub
stances which may be a culture for
bacterial germs of various kinds. The
quantity of the ammonias as given
above is very small as compared with
other waters of this city, and the pre-
sumption is favorable to the solubrity
of the water.
clear and free from sediment on stand
ing, with the exception of a small quan-
tity of 7oculent matter, such as is fire.
quently seen in well water, and is gen.
orally organic. Microscopic tests might
show bateria, an damong them the
typhoid bacillus, but the proba bility of
any such discovery is very remote, be-
cause this water is not favorable
=
above analysis. If there has been any
chance by drainage or otherwise for the
introduction of typhoid germs into the
water, or if use of the water Is shown
to have been followed by deleterious re-
suits. then an exhaustive archaeological
examination may be warranted. Such
an investigation will lbe of value only
when pursued by a specialist trained,
and experienced in ARCHAEOLOGICAL work.
J. T. LOVEWELL-
To understand more fully the meaning
of the analysis the following extract from
a Treatise on Water Analysis by J.
Alfred Wanklyn, NJ. r. c. S.N a celebrated
English chemist. will be of interest:
IF a water yields 90 parts of albumin
old ammonia PER million il may be passed
as orga nically pure. despite much free
ammonia and chlorides: and if. indeed.
the albuminoid ammonia amounts to .o2 or
to less than .e5 parts per million. the wa
ter belongs to the class of very pure
water.
amounts to .o5 then the proportion of free
ammonia becomes an element in the cal
culation. and I should be inclined to re-
gard with some suspicion a water yield
ing q considerable quantity of free am
mona along with more than .05 parts Of
albuminod ammonia per million -
The VinewOOd park water has over %
parts per million of albuminoid ammonia,
but the quantity, OF free ammonia IS very
classifications of water:
Glass 1-Water of extra ordinary organic
purity. yielding from 90 up to 90 parts of
albuminoid ammonia per million. This
class comprises the most carefully pre-
pared distilled water and highly filtered
water. Water of this class can not be
objected to organically.
Class comprehends the general drink
ing water of the country. It gives from
O5 to 10 parts of albuminoid ammonia per
million. l believe that any water falling
fairly into this class is safe organically.
Glass 3-Water giving over 10 parts of
albuminoid ammonia per million, which
should be regarded with suspicion.
Under this classification the Vinewood
park water should be in class and To-
peka city water in class g.
The determination of the presence of
bacteria in water is an operation of great
difficulty especially the microscopic test
for typhoid fever germs. 1t is subject TO
much uncertainty No matter how accu-
rate the test it is quite possible for water
containing typhoid bacilli to show no
such bacilIi under the microscope.
L. G. T. TO PLAY BALL.