284 Recent Progress in Sanitary Science. 



This being understood, we can proceed to consider :— 



V. Whether any particular community has a natural right to the use 

 of the water-supply of the water-basin in which such community is lo- 

 cated, in an uncontaminated condition,— and whether this natural right 

 should be paramount to any right which an individual, or a number of 

 individuals in that community, has acquired in virtue of purchase, grant, 

 use, allowance, or custom. 



Vet. If such a natural right be conceded, it must be settled what legis- 

 lation is necessary to secure for a community that natural right ; or, if 

 the existence of such a natural right be denied, or only allowed in part, 

 what legislation is required to regulate the extent to which drinking 

 waters may be polluted. 



VI. It is necessary to arrive at a decision upon the much-mooted point, 

 ^whether a stream after pollution can by flowing for a limited number 

 of miles, in contact with air and growing plants, be again made a safe 

 drinking-water. 



VII. Whether any means, microscopic, chemical, or otherwise, exist 

 at the present time, of discriminating between Infected and Non-infected 

 Sewage; and if, as some high authorities contend, they cannot be dis- 

 tinguished, whether sewage by one community into the water-supply of 

 another community, should not be interdicted. 



VIII. If sewage and other impurities be allowed to go into a water- 

 supply, how much of them, and of what kind, are permissible without 

 detriment to health. 



IX. It is of the highest importance to determine, how many cases of 

 disease and death in the state of New Jersey are fairly attributable to the 

 use of contaminated water. 



X. Finally, to apply these principles and this knowledge, to communi- 

 ties which, like Newark, Jersey City, and Hoboken, at the present time, 

 demand an increase and perhaps a change of their water supply; and with 

 a proper view to the actual difficulties involved, and a reasonable economy, 

 to decide which are the best and most available sources of supply for 

 communities throughout the state, or of particular sections thereof. 



Returning to a fuller consideration of some of these points, 

 we may inquire : — 



V. Whether any particular community has a natural right to the use 

 of the water-supply of the water-basin in which such community is lo- 

 cated, in an uncontaminated condition, and whether this natural right 

 should be paramount to any right, which one individual or a number of 

 individuals in that community, has acquired in virtue of purchase, grant, 

 use, allowance or custom. 



We hold that such a natural right exists, for the reason that pure 

 water, like pure air, is a natural gift to every man, which he cannot be 

 deprived of without fatal injury, to his well-being and happiness. It is 

 just, therefore, that a community may use this water, or may allow, by 



