1887.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 121 



A satisfactory supply of good drinking water on a farm de- 

 pends, in a controlling degree, on a judicious selection of the 

 location of the well designed for the use of the family and for 

 the live stock, and on the personal attention bestowed, from 

 time to time, on the condition of the latter and its surround- 

 ings. Good wells are liable to change for the worse at any 

 time, on account of circumstances too numerous to state in this 

 connection. To ascertain from time to time the exact condition 

 of the well which supplies the wants of the family and of the 

 live stock, is a task which no fjirmer can for any length of time 

 discard, without incurring a serious risk in health and pros- 

 perity. The subject receives quite frequently but little atten- 

 tion, on account of the fact that the harmful qualities which an 

 apparently good water may contain are disguised beyond recog- 

 nition by the unaided senses. Certain delicate chemical tests, 

 aided at times by microscopical observations, are, in the major- 

 ity of cases, the only reliable means, in our present state of 

 scientitic inquiry, by which desirable information regarding the 

 true character of a drinking water can be obtained. 



These tests, it must be acknowledged, although of the great- 

 est importance from a general standpoint, have their limitations. 

 They readily indicate the presence of organic matters, but 

 give no unfailing decision regarding their origin, — whether 

 animal or vegetable, — leaving thus, quite frequently', the degree 

 of their harmfulness quite undecided. However, the chemical 

 analysis may be depended upon for all practical purposes, as 

 revealing the presence of objectionable qualities in the water. 



The harmful substances found in drinking water are of two 

 classes, — mineral and organic. Few natural waters are entirely 

 free from mineral matters ; nearly all contain small quantities 

 of lime, soda, magnesia and iron, — substances which may be 

 considered harmless in that case. Larger quantities of these 

 elements, however, render the water objectionable for drinking, 

 and also more or less unfit for various applications, as washing 

 and cooking, feeding of steam apparatus, etc. 



Foremost among the dangerous mineral substances which 

 have been found in drinking water is lead. Its presence is 

 usually due to the use of lead-pipes for conducting the water 

 from the well to the pump and elsewhere. Lead is a treacherous 

 and dangerous poison. Not a trace should be tolerated in 



