The philosophy of eating. By Albert J. Bellows, M.D.

200 THE DELETERIOUS INFLUENCE OF LEAD.

in all lined cisterns, and all pipes where two metals
are united or come in contact, forming a galvanic battery-as in soldered joints, supporting bars of iron,
copper faucets, &c., and the action on the water, however pure, in these parts will cause decomposition of
the metals; and thus in the purest water, if we obtain
it through lead pipes, or zinc-lined cisterns, or copper
boilers, we get some very deleterious mineral matters,
which affect the system, even though we get them in
very minute quantities.
The worst of this influence is, that it is cumulative;
and no particular effects being perceived, perhaps, for
a long time, we come to doubt whether water which we
have used with apparent impunity for months, and perhaps years, can in any way be injurious; and many a
disease, such as colic, numbness, pain in the bones,
constipation, fits, spasms, cramps, &c., is charged to
something else, or the cause of which is not known, is
really induced by the cumulative influence of lead,
zinc, or copper from our water pipes or cistern linings,
&c. Cases frequently occur in which whole families
are afflicted with some mysterious and complicated
diseases, from which they suffer for months and years,
and which destroy all their comfort and all their usefulness, and even the life of some of the members, before
they suspect the cause; but when scientific investigation is finally obtained, the cause is found to be lead
pipes, from which they had used water from the same
well for years, much of the time enjoying good health.
Not one half of the evils from metallic water pipes