Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-02-18
KEEPING THE ICE AND
DRINKING WATER PURE
Danger in Dirty Ice, Dirty Filt-
ers and Use of Cups That
Are Available to Public.
Hy Or. JoUN " DUKE.


estate Health Commissioner.
Much has been said and written
about the necessity for pure wat,-
supplies the advantages of the chlor-
nation process the good results OBJ
taincd hy preserving the watershed
from contamination. and other factors
Of hoalthful public supply of water.
Tho importance of this phase OF the
question in It's relation to the general
health Of the public cannot be- over
estimated, but it Is almost equally
important To remember that water
originally pure can be- contaminated
by careless handling and that unless
care is used. ice may also hc a dam
ger factor. The water aud ice supply
in the household and the method of
handling both should be above sus-
picion. The greatest care should bee
taken to keep clean and in good CON
dition all vessels In which water is
used for household purposes. Water
coolers. If used. should be of some
material like porcelain or cnamclcd.
which is easily kept clean They
should he scalded out at frequent in
tervals
Keep Ice and Water Separate.
The ice, if it comes in contact with
the water. should bc of known and
tested quality. II such ice cannot he
secured, water cooler should bc
used I'm which the ice is I'm a separate
receptacle and does not come in di-
rect contact with the water Many
families cool drinking water by put
ting II in the ice box in glass fruit
Jars or bottles. Perfect clearuess is
generally an indication OF the purity
in ice. Cloudy ice. fun of bubbles. or
snow ice. should not be used in direct
contact with food or water. and ice
which contains dirt Of any kind
frozen in II should be regarded with
suspicion for refrigorating purposes
and absolutely avoided for water.
II there is any reason to believe
that the water itself Is not pure, 1t
may be boiled or filtered or both. II
is well to remember that "A filter may
make the water appear pure and
clear. yet may not have eliminated
some of the most dangerous disease
producing germs. Boiling, Of course,
II properly carried out. and care Is
taken to avoid contamination after
ward, is practically an absolute pro-
lection. II filters are used. every
pIecaution should be taken To keep
them clean and in good condition.
Earthenware filters may be stCriliZed
10y placing them is a jar or kettle OF
water and boiling them out after they
have been thoroly scrubbed with a
brush. A small piece of wood should
be placed under the jar to prevent di-
rect contact with the bottom of the
pan.
Tho water cooler In any public
place should always be in charge of "A
responsible person who will keep It
clean and in good condition. Some
sort of sanitary drinking fountain is
pre-cminently desirable. The public
drinking cup should not be permitted.
1t Is unclcanly In the first place and
in the second furnishes "A ready means
of transmitting infection such
drinking cups are prohibited by the
laws of this and many other states.
Unfortunately these laws are not as
thoroly aud generally enforced as
should be the case. II is a curious
and regrettable fact also that num-
Der of states which in most public
health matters are thoro and up-to-
date will permit the dangerous and
unsanitary public drinking cup.
The Public Cup.
A number of experiments recently
made plainly showed the presence OF
mouth bacteria and other micro or
ganisms, including those which cause
pneumonia, on drinking cups from an
office building. ward school and "A
railroad station. This means that the
user of such n public drinking cup
runs the risk of taking mot his mouth
more or less OF the saliva Of some
other person and may take with II
micro-organisms causing virulent dis
eases, as well as the ordinary mouth
bacteria, which generally are harm
less. These unpleasant and danger