case, to be the cliief source of supply. Such water will of course be spring-water, with the characteristics of the soil through which it rises. If the well be shallow, and fed by surface springs, all impurities of the soil will be found in it ; and thus to dig deep becomes essential, for man}^ reasons. Dr. Parker of England, in some papers on practical hygiene*, gives a clear and easily understood statement of some causes affecting the purity of well- water. " A well drains an extent of ground around it, in the shape of an inverted cone, which is in proportion to its own depth and the looseness of the soil. In very loose soils a well of sixty or eighty feet will drain a large area, perhaps as much as two hundred feet in diameter, or even more ; but the exact amount is not, as far as I know, pre- cisely determined. ' ' Certain trades pour their refuse water into rivers . gas-works ; slaughter-houses ; tripe-houses ; size, horn, and isinglass manufactories ; wash-houses, starch- works, and calico-printers, and many others. In houses it is astonishing how manj^ instances occur of the water of butts, cisterns, and tanks, getting contaminated by leak- ing of pipes and other causes, such as the passage of sewer- gas through overflow-pipes, &c. " As there is now no doubt that typhoid-fever, cholera, and dysentery may be caused by water rendered impure by the evacuations passed in those diseases, and as simple diarrhoea seems also to be largely caused by animal or- ganic [matter in] suspension or solution, it is evident how necessary it is to be quick-sighted in regard to the possible impurity of water from incidental causes of this kind. Therefore all tanks and cisterns should be inspected regu- 30 DRAINAGE AND WATER-SUPPLY. larly , and any accidental source of impurit}' must be looked out for. Wells should be covered ; a good coping put round to prevent substances being washed down ; the dis- tances from cess-pools and dung-heaps should be carefully noted ; no sewer should be allowed to pass near a well. The same precautions should be taken with springs. In the case of rivers, we must consider if contamination can result from the discharge of fecal matters, trade refuse, &c." Now, suppose all such precautions have been disre- garded. Suppose, as is most usual, that the well is dug near the kitchen-door, — probably between kitchen and barn ; the drain, if there is a drain from the kitchen, pouring out the dirty water of wash-day and all other days, which sinks through the ground, and acts as feeder to the waiting well. Suppose the manure-pile in the barn- yard also sends down its supply, and the privies contrib- ute theirs. The water may be unchanged in color or odor : yet none the less you are drinking a foul and horri- ble poison ; slow in action, it is true, but making you ready for diphtheria and tj^hoid-fever, and consumption, and other nameless ills. It is so easy to doubt or set aside all this, that I give one case as illustration and warning of all the evils enumerated above.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

case, to be the chief source of supply. Such water will of course be spring-water, with the characteristics of the soil through which it rises. If the well be shallow, and fed by surface springs, all impurities of the soil will be found in it ; and thus to dig deep becomes essential, for many reasons. Dr. Parker of England, in some papers on practical hygiene*, gives a clear and easily understood statement of some causes affecting the purity of wellwater. " A well drains an extent of ground around it, in the shape of an inverted cone, which is in proportion to its own depth and the looseness of the soil. In very loose soils a well of sixty or eighty feet will drain a large area, perhaps as much as two hundred feet in diameter, or even more ; but the exact amount is not, as far as I know, precisely determined. ' ' Certain trades pour their refuse water into rivers . gas-works ; slaughter-houses ; tripe-houses ; size, horn, and isinglass manufactories ; wash-houses, starch- works, and calico-printers, and many others. In houses it is astonishing how many instances occur of the water of butts, cisterns, and tanks, getting contaminated by leaking of pipes and other causes, such as the passage of sewer-gas through overflow-pipes, &c. " As there is now no doubt that typhoid-fever, cholera, and dysentery may be caused by water rendered impure by the evacuations passed in those diseases, and as simple diarrhoea seems also to be largely caused by animal organic [matter in] suspension or solution, it is evident how necessary it is to be quick-sighted in regard to the possible impurity of water from incidental causes of this kind. Therefore all tanks and cisterns should be inspected regu- 30 DRAINAGE AND WATER-SUPPLY. larly , and any accidental source of impurit}' must be looked out for. Wells should be covered ; a good coping put round to prevent substances being washed down ; the distances from cess-pools and dung-heaps should be carefully noted ; no sewer should be allowed to pass near a well. The same precautions should be taken with springs. In the case of rivers, we must consider if contamination can result from the discharge of fecal matters, trade refuse, &c." Now, suppose all such precautions have been disregarded. Suppose, as is most usual, that the well is dug near the kitchen-door, — probably between kitchen and barn ; the drain, if there is a drain from the kitchen, pouring out the dirty water of wash-day and all other days, which sinks through the ground, and acts as feeder to the waiting well. Suppose the manure-pile in the barnyard also sends down its supply, and the privies contribute theirs. The water may be unchanged in color or odor : yet none the less you are drinking a foul and horrible poison ; slow in action, it is true, but making you ready for diphtheria and typhoid-fever, and consumption, and other nameless ills. It is so easy to doubt or set aside all this, that I give one case as illustration and warning of all the evils enumerated above.

The easiest way in housekeeping and cooking