Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-12-14

g,,,,rti.e aIsa are included. In some of the
states such examinations are also made I'M
der the auspices Of the state boards OF health.
In Massachusetts the inspection Of water
and ice supplies has formed . very inpor
tant part OF the work Of the state board OF
health for many years, and an experiment
station for the study OF water supply. sew
age disposal and related questions mas been
established and many problems relating to
water supply have received extensive study
That water may often be undesirable for
drinking purposes is illustrated by studies at
the Vermont experiment station. OF 23l cam
ples OF water from springs, wells, ponds, etc,
analvzed, - per cent. OF the spring water
and Al per cent. of the water from ponds
etc. we're found to be impure, or at least
Of doubtful purity. OF four samples of pond
ice examined all were unfit for use.
simple way of securing wholesome
water for drinking purposes in the home is
to boil it, Many persons object to the taste
Of boiled water and insist that 1t is nat ana
unpalatable Fresh water owes Its sparkle
TO the air dissolved in il. and the nat taste
Of boiled water is due to the fact that the
air normally present in drinking water has
been almost entirely driven out by heat. A
few minutes vigorous boiling is sufficient for
ordinary safety: and il fresh water is
boiled for short time only IT retains more
or less air and when properly cooled is BY
no means unpalatable.
Distilled Water Landed.
Water properly distilled is free from
harmful impurities and is very satisfactory
for household use. Several stills, simple IN
construction and operation, have been de-
yised which are suitable for use in the home
Several years ago, the statement was quite
widely circulated in popular journals that
distilled water was very unwholesome pc
cause it dissolved and removed from the
tissues necessary salts. So far as can be
learned, there was no experimental evidence
for such a statement. nor is this belief COM
monty held by wen informed psychologists
Rolled. distilled or other water which is
nerfectly satisfactory for drinking purposes
is frequently contaminated by adding dirty
ice or by keeping it in a water cooler whch
has not received proper attention. Ii there
is any doubt as to the ice supply 1t certain.
" seems the part of common sense TO cool
the water in receptacles placed near the ice
or in some other way so that it is out OF act
nal contact with the ice. Under favorable
conditions the process of freezing is un-
doubtedly process of publication, but IL
may be safely assumed that under ordinary
conditions contaminated water will produce
generally handled in manner which is not
conductive to cleanliness, Obviously such
ice should not come in contact with food or
drink. Its beneficial effects can be obtained
without actual contact, and contact means
contamination
The sale of simple potable waters for Ia
HE use has greatly increased within recent
wears. owing to the fact that many persons
dstrust the ordinary water supply and be-
lieve that by purchasing water in bottles or
Jugs they are sure of obtaining something
which is entirely satisfactory. The Connect
icut state experiment station recently exam.
med a considerable number of samples OF
such waters and found that, although the
majority of them were of good quality,
number were not above suspicion. 1t must
be remembered that water from an uncon-
tamnated source may become unwholesome
If It is carelessly bottled or marketed IN I'M
clean receptaces.