The general principles of sanitation which are applied to the preparation and transportation of potable and mineral waters should be applied also to the so-called soda fountain. The carbonated water employed should be pure potable water or distilled water, prepared with every precaution to insure freedom from contamination. It should not be kept in tanks lined with zinc or lead, nor should it pass through lead pipes. Contamination with lead, a very dangerous poison, may ensue by keeping soft water in contact with lead for any length of time.

The carbon dioxid which is used for charging should be thoroughly washed and pure, free from all contamination of every kind. The glasses used for drinking purposes should be thoroughly sterilized before using a second time. Dipping them in a tank of water, so commonly practised, which has served the same purpose for many hundreds of times without changing its contents is worse than no treatment. The best precaution is to use paper cups and then throw them away. Rigid inspection should be exercised over all fountains of this kind, in order that the public may be guarded against injury and the purity of the product preserved.