New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-11-30
uONg HEALTH CLUB.
NIssS
~ DR.. David q. Hseder, @ hieaso, Ill.

WELLS AND CIsTERNS: Many people
throughout the farming district are hav.
Ing wells and cisterns dug or the well
drilled with the view Of having it where
the surroundings will be the most SAINT ary.
The other three-fourths will pay no at
tention whatever to this, bat will consider
convenience only. The % called malaria,
typhoid and many cases that are called
bilious attacks or summer disrrhea and
dvssntary are very often due to contain
mated drinking water.
% many wells and cistefn6. from which
the drinking water and water used for
sookisg purposes 10 taken, are often locat-
ed in back porch or room, or within few
feet of the kitchen door, or possibly within
10 or 20 fe,t of out-houses, auch as pig
stages, stables and privy vaults. When
sickness prevails 10 families who get their
water supply from eisterns or wells thus
situated, they are At loss to understand 1t.
Last summer, visited family in the
country where sickness seemed to bs al
ways present, and on looking up their
water supply was very much surprised to
find that it was obtained from cistsrn To-
Gated about 20 feet bsek Of she kitchen
door. The we'll had good curbing around
:
away from the eurbing slopes toward the
Veil. This was due tothe pump being de-
fsctivs, allowing the water to waste and
form puddlss, in which . dosen or 50 OF
ducks were having the times OF their lives.
Now, mind you, whenever rain came or
whenever one Of the children got at the
pump and overlooked these paddles, the
water drained right back into the well
1t 10 needless to say that the head OF the
family wss given good lecture, and ad-
vissd st once to ill up the paddles, clean
out the cistsrn and keep the ducks out OF
the back yard.
Some time ago WAS visiting an old &c
quaintanee in the country and while
saooping around the barn-lot and barn,
to see, Of course if everything was SAINT
AIRY, found . well, on one side of which
was . large manure pile, which from all
appearances had been added to year by
yesr. On the other side much deadlier
source Of poison, pig pen, was located.
The thought occurred to me that1this well
hsd been designed either for murder or
suicide. My friend being asked what in
spired him to select that particular spot
for . well, replied that il was handy. he
listened doubtfally to TRADE Of criticism
Of this we'll, but answered, "Those VINO
are always afraid Of diseases are the ones
who always get them" On this cheerful
bit of optimism he had buried his wife
aud two daughters, who apparently died
because they were afraid Of this we'll. Nor
IL he rare exception. All over the U 81.
there are innumsrsble wells in similar To-
cation.
II the water is very cold and clear, it is
often % proof Of purity. 1t is cold ana
pleasant to drink, but this is no evidence
that impurities are not oozing into it from
various sources. The we'll should be on
IN elevation and deep enough to pass thr.
eugh one or more strata Of rock. Such q
well 10 "peol-proof."
Water il seldom, il dependable from !
saHitary standpoint. They are 90 many
ways for it to become contaminated. II
yoa are going TO drill wsllor dig . siststn
this fall or winter, Do sars to nave them
On high ground and we'll protected from
any possible source Of pollution.