270 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



ON THE PURIFICATION OF WATER. 



When we consider the great importance 

 of water, and its economic uses for the daily 

 necessities of life, we may well wonder that 

 so little attention is generally paid to its 

 purification. This is a matter of greater 

 importance than may be imagined. 



Some few attempts at cleansing water 

 are made by the " Companies " who supply 

 the curious "chemical compound" to the 

 inhabitants of London, but all to little pur- 

 pose ; for to have a good supply of the whole- 

 some element we must go deeper, and examine 

 the sourc?. 



" First make the tree good, then will its 

 fruit be good also." The means, however, 

 of subsequent cleansing are various. The 

 principal modes are by passing the water 

 through a layer of some siliceous or calca- 

 reous nature, as gravel, sand, or pebbles, &c. 

 By such means, the mechanical and sus- 

 pended impurities may be removed, and the 

 water restored to its proper color. 



This process, though it should always be 

 used as a preparatory step, is not in every 

 case sufficient, and its advantages are perhaps 

 greater in appearance than in reality. Even 

 animal charcoal, the most effectual of the 

 filtering media, though it will remove many 

 substances dissolved in the water, by the 

 attractive power of its surface, has yet failed 

 in some cases. 



Water may appear sparkling and transpa- 

 rent ; and, notwithstanding, be contaminated 

 by metallic salts, or organic matter dissolved 

 in it. On the application of a microscope, 

 we may perceive in filtered water numerous 

 animalculae. Admitting that these are in- 

 nocuous, it proves the assertion, that all 

 animalculae are separated by filtration, to be 

 erroneous. The most serious contamination 

 of water is by lead. To obviate this, when 

 water has to pass through leaden pipes, it is 

 desirable to add a minute quantity of tar- 

 taric or phosphoric acid, which prevents the 

 corrosion. A scheme of this kind was pro- 

 posed to a water company, who were advised 

 to add a small quantity of a soluble phos 

 phate, about 1 part to 12,000 parts of water. 

 They referred to the opinion of a scientific 

 man, who protested against the experiment, 

 observing that " water, like Csesar's wife, 

 should be above suspicion." 



The presence of lime is also serviceable ; 

 and by the use of gutta-percha tubes, all 

 possibility of corrosion is avoided. 



Organic matter is often present in water, 

 and is not easily detected. An anecdote has 

 been related of a party who were travelling 

 through an uninhabited country. Their only 

 beverage for several days had been the 

 muddy waters of a river near their route. 

 Subsequently, one of the travellers discovered 



a small pool, the water of which was clear 

 and sparkling as crystal, being supplied from 

 a stream which flowed down a rocky bed. 

 He eagerly threw himself down to drink ; 

 but after a few mouthfuls, perceiving a very 

 peculiar taste, he hesitated, and then traced 

 the water further up towards its source. He 

 then discovered in the stream the putrescent 

 body of a large animal, which accounted for 

 the " peculiar " flavor. 



This proves the necessity of caution in 

 drinking water, the source of which is un- 

 known. The hydropathists are generally 

 particular as to the purity of the water which 

 they use. Those who recommend the almost 

 constant use of water (both externally and 

 internally), might take for their motto the 

 elegant lines of the poet, witli a slight 

 alteration : — 



" A little water is a dangerous thing ; 

 Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring." 



I should think that " Our Editor," how- 

 ever much he may admire the pellucid stream, 

 will hardly go to the extreme views of our 

 friends above. Cerura. 



[You are quite right, sir. We do love a 

 pure draught of water, — clear as crystal, cold 

 as a zephyr. Any foreign flavor spoils our 

 draught. It must be drawn from a well to 

 please us ; then do we feel " safe" from the 

 " peculiar " flavor imparted by floating 

 animals and other curious deposits.] 



TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW. 



Don't tell me of to-morrow ; 



Give me the man who'll say, 

 That when a good deed's to be done, 



" Let's do the deed to-day." 



We may all command the present, 

 If we act and never wait ; 



But repentance is the phantom 

 Of a past that comes too late. 



Don't tell me of to-morrow ; 



There is much to do to-day, 

 That can never be accomplished, 



If we throw the hours away. 



Every moment has its duty — 

 Who the future can foretell? — 



Then why put-off till to-morrow 

 What to-day can do as well ? 



Don't tell me of to-morrow ; 



If we look upon the past, 

 How much that we have left to do, 



AVe cannot do at last ! 



To-day — it is the only time 

 For all on this frail earth ; 



It takes an age to form a life, — 

 A moment gives it birth. 



C. S. 



