xv, 4 Oshimu: Formosan Termites 345 



saniis. It is necessary, therefore, to provide ventilation holes 

 and skylights for inclosed spaces, such as underparts of floors 

 or inner parts of roofs. 



In the case of storehouses or other special buildings the 

 termite-proof concrete layer may be directly used as the first 

 floor, as shown in Plate XII, fig. 1 ; but in ordinary houses the 

 first floor should be raised about 3 feet (about 1 meter) above 

 the concrete layer, by means of brick walls and brick supports. 

 Two methods are adopted for constructing the first floor : a, the 

 external parts of the building are entirely surrounded with 

 brick walls about 3 feet (about 1 meter) high, which are provided 

 with square ventilation holes, 2 by 1.2 feet (about 0.6 by 0.4 

 meter), situated 6 feet (about 2 meters) apart; the floor rests 

 upon square brick supporters (text fig. 2; Plate XIII, figs. 1 to 5) ; 

 b, the floor is placed upon brick arches as shown in Plate XII, 

 fig. 2. Even in wood construction the present method is adopted, 

 all woodwork being placed upon brick supports. 



The advantages of this construction are as follows: None of 

 the woodwork is in contact with the ground; the basement of 

 the building is always kept dry and clean ; the ample light makes 

 inspection easy; and it is elective in keeping the building free 

 from rats and mice, which are the propagators of the plague. 



Second floor; brick building. — The second floor is constructed 

 of reenforced concrete just like the concrete layer on the ground 

 level, making a continuous plane. Its edges are extended to 

 the external part of the walls, instead of being partially inserted 

 into the brick walls as shown in Plate XIII, fig. 1. The upper 

 and the lower surfaces of the layer are covered with cement 

 mortar, and all the crevices, even the holes made for gas and 

 water pipes, etc., are carefully filled. Brick walls and parti- 

 tions on the second floor should be absolutely disconnected from 

 those of the lower floor in order to confine any damage to a 

 limited area. In addition a number of ventilation holes or 

 windows are made through the external walls to expose to the 

 light the inclosed space between the second floor and the ceiling 

 of the lower story (Plate XIII, figs. 2 and 3). 



Second floor: wood construction. — The distance between the 

 beams of the second floor and the ceiling of the lower story 

 is somewhat extended, and several ventilation holes or windows 

 are made in the external walls to allow sufficient light to enter 

 the interspace (Plate XIII, fig. 5). 



Roofs. — Both in brick and wooden buildings the inside of 

 the roof is usually dark and contains a lot of timber, thus render- 



