Amjine^9osaruJ'}     Use  of  Copper  in  Destroying  Typhoid.  271 
up  the  pharmacological  phase  of  this  question  heretofore  has  been 
that  my  own  experiments  in  the  consumption  of  water  treated  with 
copper  foil  did  not  extend  over  a  sufficient  period  of  time  to  warrant 
me  in  making  any  statements  in  regard  to  the  effects  of  water  so 
treated.  Then,  too,  I  felt  that  the  statements  of  pharmacologists 
and  physiologists  were  conclusive  as  to  the  probable  harmlessness 
to  man  of  copper  when  used  in  the  proportions  necessary  to  purify 
water  containing  typhoid  organisms.  But  since  there  seems  to  be 
some  objection  in  certain  communities  to  the  drinking  of  water 
.  treated  with  copper,  I  have  deemed  it  advisable  to  give  my  own 
experience  in  connection  with  this  subject. 
For  over  six  months  all  of  the  drinking-water  consumed  in  my 
home  has  been  treated  with  copper.  A  strip  of  copper  foil,  or  sheet 
copper,  9  inches  square,  is  placed  in  a  vessel  containing  from  3  to 
4  quarts  of  water  and  allowed  to  remain  from  four  to  eight  hours. 
The  foil  is  first  cleaned  with  powdered  pumice,  and  retains  its  lustre 
for  weeks  unless  the  water  contains  a  considerable  quantity  of  sedi- 
ment, and  provided  the  quantity  of  water  is  renewed  immediately 
each  time  upon  drawing  off  the  sterilized  water.  On  account  of  the 
varying  amounts  of  sediment  we  find  it  desirable  to  filter  the  water 
before  treating  it  with  the  copper  foil.  Up  to  this  time  no  ill  effects 
have  been  noted  from  drinking  the  water  so  treated,  and,  in  fact, 
our  general  health  may  perhaps  be  said  to  be  better  than  usual,  in 
that  we  have  not  had  to  consult  a  physician  during  this  time. 
Another  interesting  observation  is  that  the  water  being  more  pala- 
table than  boiled  water,  we  consume  larger  quantities,  which  possibly 
has  some  influence  on  the  general  bodily  condition. 
Believing,  as  I  have  already  indicated,  that  many  vegetables  may 
also  be  a  source  of  infection,  we  take  the  precaution  either  to  wash 
the  vegetables  to  be  eaten  raw  in  copper-treated  water  or  to  place 
them,  particularly  in  the  case  of  lettuce  and  celery,  in  a  vessel  of 
water  along  with  a  strip  of  clean  copper  foil  and  allow  them  to 
remain  from  two  to  four  hours  with  occasional  agitation. 
The  use  of  copper  vessels  would  be  more  convenient,  but  of  course 
is  more  expensive.  I  have  also  thought  that  water-pitchers  and 
tumblers  might  be  partly  lined  with  pieces  of  copper  foil. 
I  may  say  in  addition  that  I  know  of  a  number  of  families  who 
have  been  using  copper-treated  water  for  even  a  longer  period  of 
time  without  any  untoward  effects. 
