Drinking waters from the City of Chilpancingo and hygienic rules for using them : memorandum / presented by Dr. Leopold Vitamontes to the "American Association of Public Health" in the sessions celebrated in the City of Mexico in the year 1892.

  • Vitamontes, Leopold.
Date:
[1892]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Drinking waters from the City of Chilpancingo and hygienic rules for using them : memorandum / presented by Dr. Leopold Vitamontes to the "American Association of Public Health" in the sessions celebrated in the City of Mexico in the year 1892. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    charged with organic matter in decomposition, and besides having a bad taste they produce inflammation of the digestive organs. Before using these waters it is necessary to filter them and then agitate them, that they may mix with the air, adding to them a small quantity of bi-carbonate of sodium or kitchen salt. Or it will be sufficient to boil the water and add the salt. Rain water is pure, but it must be caught before reaching the ground, and the first rain must not be used as it contains organic matter. Water obtained from melting ice must not be used because it is wanting in salts and has not mixed with air. The waters from wells vary in character according to the soil they pass through, but their use ought to be avoided, be¬ cause they generally mix with substances which dirty them and make them dangerous, owing to the filtrations received. The wTaters from tanks are general^ charged with orga¬ nic matter, and also contain calcareous salts proceeding from the walls of the deposits, so that before using them it is neces¬ sary to boil them. The waters from artesian wells, ought to be made cold and mixed with air in the fountains, destined to receive them. The waters from rivers, streams and even those that run in channels, ought to be avoided, for they are produced with the impure water used in domestic duties and industrial est¬ ablishments. The water of deep rivers, but especially that from springs, is the one that ought to be preferred before any other for the uses of life, because it unites all the best conditions for public health. As to the distribution of water, we will only say that it ought to be conducted to the public fountains and houses by means of pipes, which ought to be of iron, and care ought to be taken that the fountains and deposits, where it is received, should be constantly cleaned, so that no organic matter or calcareous substances can accumulate and make it unhealthy. To conclude we will speak of the purification of water, a most