1892 The flowing bowl when and what to drink (1892, c1891)

WATER.

53

These ingredients are partly disposed of again by fil- tering through rocks and gravelly soil. Spring-water contains substances of the soil; these, varying accord- ing to the soil's composition, are useful, and in many cases indispensable for the organisms. The sparkling of the water indicates the presence of gases, without which it is never refreshing. Boiling will drive out all gases, precipitate the bicarbonate of lime and some of the coagulable matters, and destroy some of the germs of disease. Solids fixa as we find in water, are chiefly combinations of calcium, magne- sium, alkali metals, aluminium, iron, manganese in form of carbonates, chlorides, sulphates, silicates, etc., and organic particles. Good and palatable drinking water should contain less than yrnnj- of these fixa; some of them are better not found at all, and if they are, they should be in the smallest possible proportions. The limit of lime is to great a percentage of magnesia is harmful. Organic particles should be not more than to require fa to -fa % of oxygen for their oxidation, i. e., as a maxi- mum T-J&TT %- The reasons why waters not answering these require- ments are doomed, are: Firstly, it is proven beyond any doubt that the spreading of epidemics is in the closest connection with the composition of water, which, having absorbed germs of disease on one place, deposited them on another; secondly, the presence of too great quantities of organic matter, as also of am- -g-oVcj;