1893-1894 - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

88 NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH.
opinions and a great many adverse opinions to be given.
In answering the query I would say, in regard to bacteriological
examinations, the general policy of the Marine
Hospital Service, in so far as it could never examine all
the kinds of water that would be submitted to it, if it
would signify its willingness to do so, is to bring before
the authorities of the State the necessity for these examinations,
and to encourage home sanitation, which is the
sanitation to be desired. The hospital service is now open
for instruction of representatives from State and municipal
authorities, for the purpose of giving them the necessary
information for making these examinations. A complete
laborator}^ for making the experiments is not necessary.
It is earnestly desired that the States v»all give it
their official recognition and send representatives. All
materials will be furnished gratis.
In regard to the character of the water, if the signs of
the sewerage of the city should continue to be found in the
water, I should unhesitatingly condemn it as suspicious.
It is especially so of well water. If you have an examination
made of a well, and the analysis proves to be fair
or good, it does not follow that within six weeks the water
may not become contaminated. The examinations should
be made often enough to establish the purity of the water.
The apparatus for examining the water is so simple and
so inexpensive—the most expense is the microscope and it
can be gotten for $75—that the county with a hundred and
fifty dollars can purchase sufficient apparatus for the examinations.
The course in Washington is six weeks in duration.
The question was asked that if to a certain sample of
water one drop of permanganate of potash be added and
the water set aside for an hour or two and still retain the
peculiar color would he consider that water drinkable.
Or, if he made a solution of nitrate of silver, and if after