How We Got to Now by Steven Johnson

Author:Steven Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2014-09-14T16:00:00+00:00

Cholera victim

It was the first mass chlorination of a city’s water supply in history. Once word got out, however, it initially seemed as though Leal was a madman or some kind terrorist. Drinking a few glasses of calcium hypochlorite could kill you, after all. But Leal had done enough experiments to know that very small quantities of the compound were harmless to humans but lethal to many forms of bacteria. Three months after his experiment, Leal was called to appear in court to defend his actions. Throughout his interrogation, he stood strong in defense of his public health innovation:

Q: Doctor, what other places in the world can you mention in which this experiment has been tried of putting this bleaching powder in the same way in the drinking water of a city of 200,000 inhabitants?

A: 200,000 inhabitants? There is no such place in the world, it has never been tried.

Q: It never has been.

A: Not under such conditions or under such circumstances but it will be used many times in the future, however.

Q: Jersey City is the first one?

A: The first to profit by it.

Q: Jersey City is the first one used to prove whether your experiment is good or bad?

A: No, sir, to profit by it. The experiment is over.

Q: Did you notify the city that you were going to try this experiment?

A: I did not.

Q: Do you drink this water?

A: Yes sir.

Q: Would you have any hesitation about giving it to your wife and family?

A: I believe it is the safest water in the world.

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