Purifying Water

Different waters, likc different diseases, require different treatment to purify thom ; and all waters, no matter how impure they may be, can be made quito pure for drinking or other j tic purposes without distillation, j viding the proper material bo used and sufficient time allowed the agents to i act ; but, in many samples of water I I have found distillation to be the cheapest and quickest mode of purifying them. All filters in use that I m aware of only purify the water from solid impuritiès mechanically suspended in the water. The following is a description of a filter that 1 have often used, whieh purifies fonl water from orgiuiio impurities held in solntion as well as from suspended solids. Take any suitable vosse3 with a ]erforated false bottom and cover it with a layer of animal charcoal ; on the top of that spread a laycr of iron filings, borings and turning, the finer the better, mixed with charcoal dust; on the top of the filings place a layer of tino, clean, siliceous sand, and you will have a perfect filter. Allow the foul water to filter slowly through the ubove filter, and you will produce a remarkabïy-pure drinking water. Before placing the iron lilings in th. filter they must bo well washed in a hot solution of soda or potash, to remove oil or other ; impurities ; then rinse them with clean j water ; the filings should be mixed with an equal measuro of fine charcoal. If ! the water is very foul, it must be allowed to filter very slowly. The deeper the bed of iron filings is, the quicker they will act. The above is a simple, cheap and very efficiënt filter, superior to any other that I know of, and, as it has the advantage of being free to every one who chooses to make it, I have not taken out a patent for it, and I am not aware of any other person having ddne so; I think I am the only person who has ever used it. The foulest ditch water, treated as abovo, is rendered pure and fit for drinking. I may mention that I have made it a practico dtiring the last twenty-sevcn years to boil all my drinking-water. It is tho safest plan for a man moving from place to place. You cannot alwayR carry a filter and chemicals about yon, but can always manage to got beiled water. People talk about it being vapid and tasteless, but I amusod to it and like it. - English Mcchanic.