Drink Boiled Water
By J. C. Baid
Summary
In this public health essay, Dr. J. C. Baid emphasises the importance of consuming boiled water to prevent water‑borne diseases. Medical research shows that natural water is never completely pure; it always contains dissolved gases such as hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, ammonia and nitrogen and salts of calcium and magnesium. Suspended impurities include clay, silt and sand, and invisible organic and bacterial impurities enter water from the atmosphere, the catchment area and the soil. Baid explains that contaminated water can transmit viral hepatitis A (jaundice), poliomyelitis, cholera, typhoid, dysentery, gastroenteritis and parasitic infections such as amoebiasis, giardiasis, roundworm, whipworm and tapeworm. Some of these illnesses may require surgery or remain with the patient for life. The author notes that, owing to rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, drinking boiled water is more important than ever. Sources of pollution now include industrial effluents, sewage, radioactive substances and chemical pollutants such as detergents, cyanides, heavy metals, acids, bleaches, dyes, sulphides and biocides. These contaminants enter public water supplies and increase the risk of epidemic outbreaks. Baid cites World Health Organization efforts to limit water pollution and references India’s Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974. Despite modern water treatment plants, he argues that household boiling remains a simple, cost‑effective method to kill pathogens and render water safe. The essay also touches on Jain ethical practice. Traditionally, Jain monks and householders have boiled water to avoid killing microscopic organisms, aligning health precautions with the principle of ahimsa (non‑violence). Baid encourages readers to adopt this practice, emphasising that boiled water should be stored in clean containers and consumed within a reasonable time to prevent re‑contamination. By combining modern medical findings with a religiously rooted custom, the article promotes a preventive health measure accessible to all.
Conclusion
Baid’s article links ancient Jain practice with modern public health science. By outlining the array of diseases caused by impure water and detailing the chemical pollutants now prevalent in water supplies, he shows that boiling water is a simple yet effective defence against illness. The essay reinforces the idea that conscientious water consumption is not only a matter of personal health but also an expression of non‑violence toward micro‑organisms. Readers are urged to integrate this practice into daily life to safeguard themselves and their communities.