Includes bibliographical references (pages 319-348) and index.
Contents:
Journey to launch a revolution -- Demons, miasma, and the death spiral -- Germs, disease, and bacteriology -- Progress in disinfection and filtration -- Paterson and the Passaic River -- Leal, hero of public health -- Fuller, the greatest sanitary engineer -- Jersey water wars -- Bacteria on trial, 1906 to 1908 -- Chlorination plant at Boonton -- Chlorine on trial, 1908 to 1910 -- Revolution and conquest -- Epilogue, 1908 and beyond.
Summary:
"Perhaps no other advancement of public health has been as significant. Yet, few know the intriguing story of a simple idea-disinfecting public water systems with chlorine-that in just 100 years has saved more lives than any other single health development in human history. At the turn of the 20th century, most scientists and doctors called the addition of chloride of lime, a poisonous chemical, to public water supplies not only a preposterous idea but also an illegal act - until a courageous physician, Dr. John L. Leal, working with George W. Fuller, the era's greatest sanitary engineer, proved it could be done safely and effectively on a large scale. This is the first book to tell the incredible true story of the first use of chlorine to disinfect a city water supply, in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1908. This important book also corrects misinformation long-held in the historical record about who was responsible for this momentous event, giving overdue recognition to the true hero of the story-an unflagging champion of public health, Dr. John L. Leal."--Back cover
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.