PURE DRINKING-WATER. 81 



sation will often aid us in detecting these our secret enemies, 

 we must employ other scouts, if we would know their where- 

 abouts and force : we must give eternal vigilance to the mat- 

 ters of house and barn drainage, absorbing, removing, and 

 destroj'ing one of our most subtle foes. 



If any of this audience were now to ask the authorities 

 intrusted with the public health, what books and papers to 

 read, without doubt they would, first of all, say, Those per- 

 taining to the drainage of homestead and farm, and the 

 supply of pure water for the farmer and his animals. This 

 subject — as the slang phrase has it — is now "up," and we 

 must always strike when the iron is hot. And probably the 

 matter accessible to every person in the Commonwealth is 

 to be found in the reports of our State Board of Health, in 

 the hands of every town-clerk, and in most of our public 

 libraries. 



Now, the first question occurring to the practical New- 

 England farmer in considering this subject, is, How can I 

 secure pure drinking-water ? "Without doubt the supply from 

 a spring on the neighboring hill or mountain-side, delivered 

 through a wooden or iron pipe, is as near perfection as can 

 be attained in the present condition of our knowledge and 

 appliances. But this course is open to only the few. Prob- 

 ably not half of our population could thus supply themselves, 

 even if inclination and money were ready for it. 



Most of us can and must supply ourselves from the time- 

 honored well, — and a well near the house, and, better, with 

 the old oaken bucket. 



If this be so, how can the well be protected from pollution? 

 How can the farmer, without chemical and microscopic analy- 

 sis, assure himself that he is properly caring for his family 

 and his cattle in the matter of drinking-water ? Rain water 

 gathered from the roofs of buildings, and thoroughly filtered, 

 is not an impossibility ; and the authorities say that this is 

 good water. But this requires great expense and care, and 

 is practically out of the reach of nearly everybody. There 

 is no apology or excuse for most householders who do not so 

 locate their well, or protect it when located, that filth shall 

 not pollute it, or prevent their securing good water. Nature 

 has provided two available means for disposing of human 

 and animal filth, so that man can live securely and safely. 



