water in a shallow well is likely to contain bacteria which
have been washed into it. But as the water oozes farther
and farther down into the earth through layers and
layers of sand and other kinds of soil it loses its load of
bacteria. The sand acts as a filter and strains out the
bacteria. That is why deep wells are likely to be safer
than shallow wells.
After the school has secured safe water, it should be
careful to keep it safe. Every child should use his own
cup. Paper cups, which can be used by one person and
then thrown away, are excellent. If the school has drink-
ing fountains, they should throw the water at an angle—
not straight up in the air. The holes from which the
water comes should be guarded by a heavy wire so that
as children drink their lips cannot touch the bulb. Can
you give reasons for these two requirements of a sanitary
drinking fountain in the school?
The school should provide soap and water for washing
the hands before lunch and after going to the toilet.
Individual towels should also be provided. The old-
fashioned roller towel spreads bacteria. Paper towels
are more sanitary for school use.
No school is a truly up-to-date school that does not
provide safe water for drinking and washing.
At home, as at school, there should be a safe water
supply used in a sanitary way. People used to drink
water from rivers, but they found that they were often
drinking, at the same time, bacteria which cause disease.
Typhoid fever has often been spread by sparkling river
water. The number of cases of typhoid fever has been
greatly reduced by making the water supply safe.
The picture on page 80 shows how water may be
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