Manual of practical hygiene / ed., F. S. B. François De Chaumont, M. D., F. R. S.
- Parkes, Edmund A. (Edmund Alexander), 1819-1876.
- Date:
- 1883
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Manual of practical hygiene / ed., F. S. B. François De Chaumont, M. D., F. R. S. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.
36/806 (page 12)
![WATER. be used, it should, as in the case of the smaller reservoirs, be hydraulic, so that it may not be acted on by the water, _ The materials of small reservoirs and cisterns are stone, cement, brick, slate, tiles, lead, zinc, and iron. Glass-lined wooden cisterns have also been proposed. Of these slate is the best, but it is rather hable to leakage, and must be set in good cement or in Spence's metal; common mortar must not be used for stone or cement, as lime is taken up and the water becomes hard.i Leaden cisterns, as in the case of leaden pipes, often yield lead to water, and should be used as little as possible, or should be protected. Lead cisterns are corroded by mud or mortar, even when no lead is dissolved in the water.^ Iron cisterns and pipes are often rapidly eaten away; they are now sometimes protected by being covered inside with Portland cement or with a vitreous glaze. Crease's patent cement is a very useful covering. Earffs process of producing the magnetic oxide on the surface of iron is coming into use. Galvanized iron tanks are also very much used. They must be covered, and in India be protected from the sun. Zinc has been recommended, but water passing through zinc pipes, or kept in zinc pails, or in so-called galvanized iron vessels, may produce symptoms of metallic poisoning,^ and even taste strongly of zinc salts, especially if the water is rich in nitrates. It would certainly be best to abandon lead, zinc, and galvanised iron as materials for cisterns, as much as possible; iron coated by the Barff process is much to be preferred. Cisterns should always be well covered, protected as much as possible from both heat and light, and thoroughly ventilated, if they are of any size. Care should always be taken that there is no chance of leakage of pipes into them. A common source of contamination is an overflow pipe passing direct into a sewer^ so that the sewer gases pass up, and being confined by the cover of the cistern, are absorbed by the water; to prevent this, the overflow pipe is curved so as to retain a little water and form a trap, but the water often evaporates, or the gases force their way through it; no overflow pipe should therefore open into a sewer, but should end above ground over a trapped grating. 3 A cistern supplying a water-closet should not be used to supply cooking and drinking water, as the pipes leading to the closet often conduct closet air to the cistern. Hence, a small cistern (water waste preventer) should be used for each closet. Cisterns should be periodically and carefully inspected; and in every new building, if they are placed at the top of the house, convenient means of access should be provided. Tanks to hold rain-water require constant inspection. Wells (which are really reservoirs) are very liable to contamination from surface washings during rains. A good coping will often prevent this ; but if there is much subsoil soaking, lining with iron to a certain depth, or covering with brickwork set in cement for a sufficient depth to arrest the flow, is desirable. 3. Distribution. When houses are removed from sources of water the supply should be by aqueducts a.nd pipes. The distribution by hand is rude and objectionable, for 1 In two cases in Ireland (at Beltnrbet and Monaghan) so much lime was taken up from tlie lining of the tanlcs that the water was strongly alkaline and tasted caustic. See Report on Hvgiene, ArTny Medical Reports, vol. xix. p. 170.—[F. de C] 2 Dr, Orsborn, formerly of Bitterue, has seen several cases of this kind. See also Downes, Sanitary Record, vol. ix. p. 333. ^, ■,■ ■ 3 For an instance of ty])hoid fever produced by this cause, see Lectures on btate Medicine, by F. de Chauniont, pp. 76, 77. See also Dr. Blaxall's Report on Enteric Fever at Ilkeston vn 1880,](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21508410_0036.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
