Progress and Achievements of the Colored People: Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Progress and Achievements of the Colored People: Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success
John Stuart Mill · en
Surface wells are always to be viewed with suspicion when they are in
the vicinity of stables and cesspools, farm yards, cemeteries and
anywhere in the towns. The filtration of the water through the soil
removes the suspended matters, so that it may be clear enough to the
eye, but it has no power to remove impurities actually dissolved. The
eye cannot be trusted to judge the impurities of drinking water. Water
which appears absolutely clear may be unwholesome in the extreme, and
water with sediment floating in it may be in no way unwholesome. Nothing
but an analysis of the water can settle this with absolute certainty.
Deep wells and artesian wells which penetrate the surface strata are
likely to be safe. Marsh waters carry malaria and should never be drunk
without boiling. Indeed suspicious water of all sorts may be made safe
by boiling, although it is not sufficient always merely to bring it to a
boil. Thirty minutes above the boiling point is a safe rule to follow.
Typhoid, diphtheria, dysentery, cholera, diarrhea and other dangerous
diseases are caused by impure water, either by suspended mineral matters
acting as irritants, by suspended vegetable and animal matters, or by
dissolved animal impurities. Sewer gases dissolved in water, in addition
to these diseases, cause sore throats, boils and other ailments.
It must not be forgotten that water closets, stable yards, manure piles,
decaying kitchen slops and all sorts of filth are responsible for many
of the most serious diseases, either by draining into the well and so
contaminating the water supply, or by direct breeding of disease germs
carried as dust and inhaled. Health is one of the rewards for household
cleanliness of the most careful kind.
HOW DISEASES ARE CLASSIFIED
In one sense most diseases are preventable, if all the circumstances
which tend to spread them could be absolutely controlled by a single
wise authority, and if all the physiological laws would be obeyed by all
persons at all times. But as this happy condition is not in effect, we
have to reckon with various kinds of diseases, as well as the accidents
and injuries which come to us in health. The various diseases are
classified into general groups.