SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE TABLE WATERS VENDED IN 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
By Joseph Goldberger. 
Passed Assistant Surgeon, Public Health and Marine- Hospital Service. 
SUMMARY. 
0 
There is on sale in the city of Washington a great variety of “min- 
eral” Avaters, both foreign and domestic. One dealer publishes a list 
of more than sixty names. It was obviously impracticable to make 
a study of all of these, nor was it necessary for the purposes of this 
inquiry. The inspection AA^as confined to those table AA^aters originat- 
ing in or near the city or bottled here. These AA^ere studied as to 
their source and as to the mode of purveyance, and samples AA^ere 
taken for chemical and bacteriological examination AAuth a view of 
discovering any possible contamination. 
Taa^o Avaters gave evidence of pollution on chemical and bacteri- 
ological examination. 
The claims of some dealers as to sterilization of their AA^ater bottles 
could not be substantiated. 
In a few instances the inspection disclosed objectionable sanitary 
conditions and methods, and some practices AA'hich are calculated to 
mislead the Consumer as to the source or character of the AA^ater, but 
it failed to disclose any conditions Avhich could be regarded as respon- 
sible for the prevalence of any part of the typhoid fever in Washington. 
DETAILS OF INSPECTION. 
NATIONAL AVATER COMPANY, GENEVA LITHIA AA^ATER DEPOT. 
[M. L. Harper, 737 Eleventh street, NW-] 
This firm sells all kinds of mineral Avaters, of Avhich “Tate Epsom 
Spring,” “Otterburn Lithia,” and “Powhatan Spring” are bottled 
on the premises. It also manufactures and bottles distilled Avater for 
table use. 
Bottling . — This is done in the cellar under the store Avhere the 
business is conducted. The cellar is a crude one, with unpaved dirt 
floor and Avith the joists supporting the board floor of the store for a 
ceiling. Thick layers of dust were much in evidence. 
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