The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-01-01
WHAT! DRINK TAP WATER?

WHAT! DRINK TAP WATER?
 Please settle a dispute as to whe- ther the municipal water in our city is safe to drink from the tap. We have been told that all sorts of trouble may come from the sedi- ment found in the municipal water such as gallstones, bladder trouble, hardened arteries, rheumatism, and that we should drink only bottled water, which is quite expensive for large family. ~. O.
 So far as the mineral matter in water Is concerned of course the municipal water in your city, in any city in the United. States and Cana da, is safe to drink, straight from the tap. In regard to the purity of the municipal water, that is, free dom from pollution, you should be guided by she opinion of your local health department or health officer. If the municipal water is not safe to drink your health department is responsible and the municipality is liable for any illness or injury to health any one may suffer from drinking the water-if the muni- cipality's health authority has not fairly warned the public against drinking the water without first boiling it.
 There is no scientific evidence that any amount of lime (calcium) present in the hardest water one can drink will or can cause any of the complaints, you mention. If the water tastes all right 1t is sat- isfactory drinking water regardless of its hardness or softneSs-pro- vided it is pure, free from pollution or contamination.
 Once in a while even our own tap water - than which there is none better for drinking purposes, in my opinion tastes noticeably, of chlorine, I suppose. But most good municipal water supplies are con- Stantly chlorinated nowadays, as a precaution against any pollution or contamination. Whenever I take a drink, straight from the top or via the bottle of tap water we keep in the refrigerator, have to laugh at the poor gullible customers who pay their water bills just as lido but in addition dig down into their pockets to pay a kind of voluntary surtax for every drink of water they take.
 Watchout, nova shrewd oper- ator can go back into So-called med- ical literature of the last century and find plenty of authoritative" opinions that this and that high priced drinking water is desirable for this and that type of invalid, or that too much lime or other mineral matter in water will give you rheu- matiz, hob-nailed liver, Bright's di- sease, gallstones. gravel, bladder trouble, hardening of the arteries n everything if you drink it. You pays yer money and takes yer choice
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Poor Circulation
 My blood must not circulate well because my fingers and toes are cold nearly all the time and I never seem to feel warm enough even in the house where others say lL IS oo warm. (P. R)
 Answer - Your metabolism is probably on the minus side. Send stamped self addressed envelope and ask in writing for the pamphlet The Iodin Ration"
 Nothing Against Oatmeal
 As one man of Irish descent to another what have you got against oatmeal2 You didn't even mention it among the foods with a high content of AVAILABLE iron.
 (J. c. RD
 Answer - Nothing. Tn fact like 1t, preferably raw or very slightly cooked. Oatmeal contains nearly twice as much iron as wheat, nearly three times as much as raisins.
 (copyright i946, John F. Dille Co.,