Year: 1859

Az The article below, we clip from tie New Orleans Delta. We are S, t;sfied that greater-part of the diseases iu our city are produced by our water. It has almost pass ed into saying that Little Rock is an un- healthy place for children, who, it will be observed drink water solely as it comes from the pump or we'll and not after 1t has been boiled and served up as tea or coffee. With good cisterns or artesian wells, there is no reason why ours should not be as healthy as any city in the Union We are satisfied that the use of river water as 6 substitute for that obtained from our wells would prove to be more healthful We have had more than usual share of sick ness here this summer, and many of our physicians attribute 1t to our we'll water.- An artesian well would pay for itself ten times over in the course of year in the mere item of health, and the use of cisterns would bring rosy cheeks to many who now suffer from being forced to drink water that is slow ly but surely poisonous:

 WATER.

 The people of New York are very much alarmed because the water supplied to them f.om the Crotoo works is somewhat muddy and earthly This is produced by constant rains. Wehave no doubt that the infusion of earthly sediment will improve the quali- ty of the water, at least for drinking pur poses. Such, at least, is the experience of those who use the Mississippi water-,le. cidedly better drinking water than the Cro- ton, which, though yer, clear and limpid. IS like most of the water in hillv countries. very hard and unsatisfying. The water of the Mississippi is preferred to that of all other streams except that of the Nile. by shipmasters going on long voyages. It will keep forever, and become purer with time. The sediment held in solution in this water promotes fermentation and purifca- ton. It never stagnates or generates ami malcul@. Vegetable and other substances in contact with it, decay and decompose more slowly than in any other water. The Mississippi water is more pleasant and healthful in high, than at a low stage of the river; when the stream is more turbid, than when it approaches the limpidness of the northern rivers. By very simple processes, or by means of dripping stones, the water IS made as pure and pellucid as that of the Croton, and far more palatable.

 Still, for drinking purposes there is no water so uniformly good and healthful as that which falls from the heavens. New Orleans IS the only city in the Union where the value of rain water, and the great con venience and luXry of cistelns are appreci- atel and enjoyed. The unhealthiness of mnny portions of our country is due, we be- lievc, to the water which the people drink. The hard, clear, cool limestone water of the northwest is the source of much of the fever and ague that prevail in that region. X stranger is in few hours sickened, his stomach disordered by the use ofthis water It's effects are like those of diluted glauber saults. And vet the people have no idea of cistcrnS, and cherish sort of supcrstitious prejudice against rain water, the free use of which would greatly improve their health and their looks. Even in our federal capi- tai the water is very unwholesome. and there are no cisterns to catch the rain.- The consequence IS great prevalence of bowel complaint at certain periods of the year. We have little doubt that this was the canse of the National hotel disease. It is well known and universally admitted that Tn certain localities the water is very differ ent in quality and effect from that in other parts. of the city. A friend who soiourned in the National hotel during the prevalence of that mysterious disease perceived some thing peculiar in the water, abandoned it's use, and was in the habit of drinking only the water which could be obtained on the hills. He entire y escaped the disease.- We believe that if any one would use ha- bltually the water in our swamps. although it is clear, and has nothing offensive to the smell or taste, would be effected in man. ner similar to that of the victims of the National hotel disease

 It is remarkable that, in this country where Tn everything there is so active { spirit oi inquiry, our sanitarans and physi clans have given so little attention to the important subject of the quality and effects of the various kinds of water used by oul people, and the best modes of obtaining abundant supplies of that essential of life and of rendering it promctive of the health, comlort'and happiness of the people Moth ing IS more necessary to advance the cause ot temperance, to eXtirpate the fatal habit ofuSing alcoholic and spirituous liquids, than to procure abundant supplies of good, pure water. There is no more common evcuso ami pretext for the indulgence in this bale Inl habit than the bad quality of the water. nus It IS that the towns on this side of the Blue Ridge have obtained such renown for their mint juleps and other unwholesome Stlmulants, which strangers excuse them selves for drinking by pleading their repug- nance to limestone water.