SEWAGE 203 



Practically every house in town and city buys milk, and it is 

 important that milk should be reasonably free of disease bac- 

 teria. But bacteria can be seen only with a strong and expen- 

 sive microscope, and housewives and dealers have neither the 

 money for microscopes nor the time for examination. It is 

 the duty of the city to examine the milk and the sources from 

 which it comes, and to forbid its sale if unclean and dangerous 

 with germs. Most cities through their Board of Health keep 

 strict supervision over the milk supply ; health officers inspect 

 the milk brought to the railroad stations and the milk brought in 

 wagons from neighboring farms ; they also inspect as frequently 

 as possible the stores and dairies in which milk is sold at retail. 



The health of a community depends upon its drinking water, 

 which is usually taken from the nearest river or stream. It is 

 impossible to obtain pure water direct from rivers and streams 

 that flow through thickly settled regions, because the houses 

 and factories that are situated on its banks and the boats that 

 ply back and forth pour their refuse into the water. In in- 

 numerable ways a river is contaminated with disease germs. 

 A city should filter its drinking water and thus provide its 

 residents with a pure supply. 



Prompt and scientific disposal of garbage should be looked 

 after by the city. The garbage set out by the housewife 

 and storekeeper should be promptly collected and removed 

 in well-made covered wagons from which nothing can drop to 

 the street. It should be then taken to garbage plants or fac- 

 tories and made into useful substances, such as fertilizer and 

 soap. Under no circumstances should garbage be thrown on 

 vacant lots. 



Sewage. Prompt and wise disposal of sewage is one of the 

 most important duties of a community. By means of a network 

 of pipes, the sewage of individual houses is taken to large tanks, 

 called septic tanks, erected at public expense. 



