144 FIRESIDE SCIENCE. 



hurtful to the animal economy ; and therefore iron 

 conduit pipes are perfectly free from danger under 

 all circumstances. Iron pipes are cheap, easily 

 put in position, are free from the trouble of leak- 

 age, and are safe. What possible objections, then, 

 can be urged against them ? The objections relate 

 wholly to matters of convenience and economy. 

 The rust of iron, which sometimes is formed in 

 considerable quantities, is liable, when the water 

 is used for laundry purposes, to stain clothing ; 

 and this causes a good deal of scolding on the part 

 of washerwomen and tidy housewives. Also, tea 

 made of water containing iron-rust is changed into 

 a pale ink ; and many vegetables boiled in it are 

 considerably discolored. These are some of the 

 inconveniences resulting from the use of iron water- 

 pipes ; but the fact that by rapid oxidation they 

 are often speedily filled up or destroyed may be 

 regarded as the most weighty objection. In some 

 localities and under some circumstances, small ser- 

 vice-pipes rust slowly, and will continue intact for 

 many years ; under other circumstances, they are 

 soon destroyed. Iron pipes have so many desira- 

 ble points, we often advise their employment for 

 conducting water to dwellings. No iron pipe of 

 less diameter than one inch should ever be used ; 

 those which are smaller soon fill up, and are ren- 

 dered worthless. A good way- to obviate the ob- 



