Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-11
WATER pURH FLED EASILY

Nowadays when science has proved
that nearly all OF the epidemic dis
eases result from contaminated water
supplies, the household problem OF
absolutely pure water has assumed
International importance. The old
fashioned method OF boiling wator Is
absolutely safe. provided IL Is thor
oughiy done. hut then, except with
unusual care. II il apt, TO be recon.
taminated In pouring from one vessel
to another
Moreover boiled water loses all Its
air and becomes fat and poor In taste.
Wherefore boiled water Ii unpopular
on every table and the natural dis.
taste OF humanity for Il often leads
10 a relaxation OF the precautioa aud
consequently disease results. In add
ton 10 all this boiled water must be
chilled and the process In summer Is
not inexpentive and therefore bears
hardest on the class of families Tor
whom the precaution is mostly need
ed.
However. science has now worked
out quick. sure. inexpensive and
simpliled method OF purifying drink
| ing water that has none OF these OBJ
| iectlone. II has been highly recon-
mended 20 the population OF Paris py
the authorities on hygiene, and IL Is
claimed that It's use did wonders To-
ward ayeriing q typhoid or other cpl.
demic outbreak In the French capital
after the disastrous floods.
The means employed consist OF two
CHEAP powders that can be bought at
any drug store, and five cents worm
of each will purify drinking water Tor
a large household In sufficient quaint.
~ TO last for q week. The two pow
ders are the widely known perman'
ganate OF potash and a new reducing
agent known as resercin. The per.
manganate of potash is used nrst'
for it Is this chemical that VIII ster
ilize the water thoroughly and MAKE
II absolutely harmless.
The permanganate should be put In
In the proportion Of about half tea
spoonful to a quart OF water, then let
alone for two or three hours. At the
end of this time the amount OF the
resercin that will hang on the END OF
knife should be thrown into the
water. The water will turn brown.
ism yellow at once and must staha
about five minutes.
As a matter of fact. the publication
OF household drinking water need not
be so exact In the amounts used. A
bic bucket of water should be purified
at q time and the permanganate can
be put in In the proportion OF about
teas poonful to each two quarts OF
water. Two hours later the resercin
should be added just until the water
turns brownith yellow.
After standing five minutes the
water should be run through funnel
over which any clean cotton rag has
been stretched. This filtration taxes
OF all The colorins matter which stays
con the rag In the form OF hgnt
brown powder. The water obtained IS
absolutely pure and can contain no
dis ease germs.
During An epidemic OF typhoid. or
where cholera Is dreaded, the use OF
this inexpensive and certainly not di,.
ficult method of water sanitation WIZ
guard against ali but the most remote
chances OF contagion. In addition tue
water Is neither acid or alkaline. Out
lust the right neutral fluid that Is ma
lures most perfect beverage for the
human race. When the vast amounts
spent on all sorts OF drinking mate
rails are considered, the production
at home OF perfect drinking water az
much less than one cent the Quart
n boon 10 even the poorest mortal.