74 An AnahjHh of Filtered Water — DmUje. 



For tliosL' who do not adi)[)L domestic filtration, another re- 

 source consists in athorouf/h bollinr/ of the water which is intend- 

 ed for drinkin<^. This has some objections, chiefly on the ground 

 of the unpalatable character of boiled water which has not been 

 subsequently aerated. In some places apparatus for aerating 

 boiling water or distilled water has been introduced; by aeration 

 the water is again made palatable. It is generally believed by 

 those who can speak with authority on the subject, as for example 

 Professor Frankland, of London, that a thorough boiling of an 

 impure water, say for half an hour, destroys the organic germs 

 that may be present and removes the danger that would attend 

 the use of the water. Opinion is a little divided on this question, 

 some holding that filtration is more to be relied on than boiling 

 for the removal of infectious germs and other objectionable mat- 

 ter. 



1 shall not hestitate to express the opinion that the river 

 water, so long at least as it is taken from the same point as at 

 present, needs purijication before being used for drinking purposes. 

 And I tlo not doubt that a good deal of the Avell water and cistern 

 water used in the city needs purification too. A chemical analysis is 

 not always necessar}^ to support such an opinion. It is often, as in 

 the case of the river water, enough to know the circumstances, to 

 see the sources of contamination and to be aware of the contamin- 

 ation going on. 



But, after all, far better than to depend upon filtering or any 

 other treatment for the improvement of a water once made im- 

 pure, far better would it be to have a water free from contamina- 

 tion in the first place, and to prevent the influx of all impurities, 

 so far as the most strenuous efforts can accomplish that result. 

 For, with the best of our methods and apparatus for the purifica- 

 tion of water there always remains the possibility that some of 

 the impurities are left in the water, and with that the further 

 possibility that what so remains in the water may be potent for 

 the making of a good deal of mischief. 



April 8, 1884. 



