SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 
321 
ing a canteen, tying a string to it and another to the 
stopper, have brought up cool water from the river bed. 
“Disease germs are of animal, not vegetable origin. 
Still waters are not necessarily unwholesome, even though 
there is rotten vegetation in them. The water of cedar 
and cypress swamps is good to drink wherever there is 
a deep pool of it, unless polluted from some outside 
source. Lake water is safe if no settlements are on its 
border ; but even so large a body as Lake Champlain has 
been condemned by state boards of health because of the 
sewage that runs into it. 
“When a stream is in flood it is likely to be contami- 
nated by decayed animal matter. 
“Alkaline Water — When traveling in an alkali coun- 
try carry some vinegar or limes or lemons, or (better) 
a glass stoppered bottle of hydrochloric acid. One tea- 
spoonful of hydrochloric (muriatic) neutralizes about a 
gallon of water, and if there should be a little excess it 
will do no harm but rather assist digestion. In default 
of acid you may add a little Jamaica ginger and sugar 
to the water, making a weak ginger tea. 
“Muddy Water—I used to clarify Mississippi water by 
stirring corn meal in it and letting it settle, or by stirring 
a lump of alum, in it until the mud began to precipitate, 
and then decanting the clear water. Lacking these, one 
can take a good handful of grass, tie it roughly in the 
form of a cone six or eight inches high, invert it, pour 
water slowly into the grass and a runnel of compara- 
tively clear water will trickle down through the small 
end. 
“Stagnant Water — A traveler may be reduced to the 
extremity of using stagnant or even putrid water; but 
this should never be done without first boiling it. Some 
charred wood from the camp fire should be boiled with 
the water; then skim off the skum, strain, and set the 
