Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-12-10

OF the organic matter which Is of no
sanitary significance from that which
Is associated with pollution or infec-
ton.
Disease germs cannot readily be
recognized in water. both because OF
their small numbers and because OF
the difficult technique required In
their detection, and he declares that
too much emphasis cannot be placed
upon the necessity of inspection and
careful examination of the water shed,
made. or all the tests applied to
water supply none is more positive
than the typhoid fever death rate in
towns where that water or similar
water is used.
Prof. ogden says that the best wa
tiers are pure mountain springs and
properly filtered waters. Surface wa
ters with largo impounding reser-
yoirs, and wells. are about equal In
purity and como next. Rivers and
large lakes como next. though their
purity is mucn inferior. And finally
there are large rivers showing evil
dence of pollution He says 1t Is
startling to SEQ how the filters In New
York state fail IN comparison VITA
European filters. duo partly, probably,
to lack of scientific control. and
partly to the fact that filters were in
stalled only after typhoid had acquir-
cd foothold in a city and tho
ground water had become thoroughly
saturated with nth.
Prof. Ogden says It is futile TO seek
pure water in any ono Of the Great
Lakes unless the inlet pipe IS carried
out beyond the possibility Of local
pollution. The fatuous Indifference OF
city authorities who allow polluted
water TO be used for drinking pur-
poses Is brought out by the death
rates OF Canton. Batavia, OswcEo.
Lockport. Catsklll. Ogdensburg. Gou-
vcrneur, Watertown. Cohoes and Ma
CARA Falls which range from 34l to
1420. It Is depressing to contemplate
the number of lives lost in these ten
citie3 during the past eight years,
and he Is gratified TO note that out OF
these ten cities six have improved or
arc Improving their water supply.
The scientific world knows to-day
that running water unpoluted, no
matter how bright and sparkling,
hurries the specific poison direct to
the consumer; while standing water
through standardization and the action
OF light ana air rapidly improves
until the infection is actually de-
concrete advice:
If the supply IS to be from springs
and wells. have regular weekly an
alysis. both chemical and bacteriologi-
cal made OF tho water. If tho analy-
SEES do not always show good water.
We SnouIu not De discouraged IN
New York State because the filters
which have been in operation do not
show better results. BAD wells must
be cut out to give the filters fair
show. II no water eXcep: polluted
water is available. then make use OF
II. but not on any account until It is
filtered Tho water from river,
large or small, which has been more
or less polluted with sewage. Is not
fit to drink and water board that
to-day deliberately selects such a
supply. or allows tho continued use
of such supply without at tho same
time neutralizng tho bad effects by
installing a filter. IS practically guilty
OF manslaughter.
For the people of most communi-
ties in Vermont the source Of water
supply is wells, and for this class OF
readers the matter OF we'll location
and construction is Of paramount I'M
portance. IA NJ. Noditer OF the New
York State HyGienic Laboratory IN
the course OF an address on this
subject caid that tho pollution Of
wells can very largely be prevented
by the proper construction and care
Of the privy faults. The location near
we'll should be discouraged. A new
ct % ~It
now well. II a case of typhoid or
possible typhoid has been discovered
It is strongly probable that infected
material has reached the privy vault
before physician is called and there
is therefore danger that there may be
n secondary infection from this source
through sub-surfaco communication.
surface wash. or by flies.
According to this authority the ma
)ority OK wells are so constructed
that they permit the entrance OF pol
lutng material at or near the ground
surface. By building tho walls of
concrete for a distance OF about six
feet below the adjacent surface Of
the ground and extending the wall a
foot or so above the general ground
Lowell and filing in around this wall
to form mound. 1t Is possible to d.
vert the surface wash away from the
we'll and. also to cause whatever is
absorbed by the ground In the neigh
boIhoOd OF tho VOL to nercolatA In