The Washington herald., 1907-07-29
Fight Science with Science.

Editor The Washington Herald:
Concerning the efforts Of those who
are advocating the preservation of the
public wells. led by Mr.. J. Praise Rich
ard it is surprising that these citizens
have not hit upon the proper way 10 pre-
vent the carrying out Of the purpose OF
the Commissioners to close the wells. II
is not by public meetings and incorporate
denuneiation Of the Commissioners. It is
incOnceivable that our benevolent board
of autocrats have any other interest than
the public interest. They are not in part
nership with any Of the dealers In trade
mark water. nor with the salOon-keepers.
nor with the ice companies. They could
not well disregard the solemn official de-
cision of their scientific advisers that the
water OF the wells is impure. is fun OF
typhoid bacilh, etcetera. They would hard
~ be justified in acting upon the plain.
practical testimony Of consumers, who
have used the well water for a genera
ton without a case of typhoid or other
infectious disease having developed IN
their families. To such testimony the
Commissioners would likely answer that
these consumers may have been immune;
or possibly that because the wells We're
not contaminated ten. twenty, or thirty
years ago It does not follow that they
are not so now.
The question IS one OF fact, and what the
fact IS depends upon expert testimony.
Inasmuch as the organisms in water are
dangerous TO human life or microscopic in
dimensions we can have no positive testi-
mOny except Of microscopes and chem
lists. The layman isn't in it. He can only
testify that he and his family have
thriyed on the water for ten. twenty. or
thirty years. He cannot tell how many
bacteria 10 the cubic centimeter there are
IN the water.
We all naturally sympathiZe with the
well-water consumers. and hope they may
be able TO stay the hand of power The
writer IS disinterested. as In a residence
Of forty years he has not used well water.
The old Potomac water is good enough
Tor him. What he wishes TO suggest TO
the advocates of the continuance Of the
public wells is to fight the devil with
fire. Let them procure samples from a
dozen Of the wells which they most de-
sire to retain. carefully seal and mark
private chemists for examination.
II this is done ! suggest, sub rosa, that
II may not be amiss in the letters of
transmittal to inform the aforesaid repu-
table private chemists as 10 the situation.
! miss my guess if this course does not
produce certificates from the scientists
that the water tested is perfectly in
nOcCuOs and wholesome.
This is apparently the only chance for
the champions of the wells They are
down and out unless they pit scientific
opinion against scientific opinion And
although the Commissioners may incline
10 be governed by the opinion of their
official scientific advisers, holding that
their deliverance is eX-cathedra. and plac-
ing the same reliance upon their official
scientists as the Attorney General upon
DR.. Wiley IN the case Of semper idem
whisky, I doubt If they will give it suffi-
Gent authority TO outweigh the testimony
OF private chemists Of equal reputation
backed by the lay testimony of large
number OF the users Of the water. The
experiment at least is worth trying.
W. J. MORRIS.
Washington ID C.