[Water and public health during antiquity]

"Thales of Miletus, one of the Seven Wise Men, affirmed that the principle of all things is water; ..." The importance of water for people's health was a widely held opinion of ancient writers. The purpose of the present study was to examine: 1) ideas of the salubrity of water, 2) the organization of water supply in towns, 3) the role of water in agriculture and transport, and 4) the influence of water on public health during antiquity. The written sources indicate that ideas of the salubrity of water are connected with the general scientific level of the society. The quality of water was examined using the senses; taste, smell, appearance and temperature. In addition the health of people and animals using a water source was examined. Tasty, cool, odorless and colourless water was considered best. Stagnant, marshy water was avoided. Settling tanks, sieves, filters and boiling of water were methods used to improve the quality of water during antiquity. The available sources do not permit estimation of the effect of these methods on public health. The relatively extensive urbanization during antiquity may be attributable to the importance dedicated to the transportation of sufficient amounts of water of good quality to the towns, Baths were probably beneficial for public health in towns where an abundance of water was available. In towns where water was scarce the role of baths was probably negative for public health....