SANITARY PLUMBING 503 



greatly improved within very recent years. Only 30 or 40 

 years ago the fixtures used in the most expensively furnished 

 residences were very insanitary as well as very expensive as 

 compared with those used today. Figure 311 shows an expen- 

 sively furnished bathroom of about 1875. It was thought 

 desirable in those days to conceal all piping and other metal 

 work within elaborately carved woodwork. In those days 

 such fixtures were not made of single, water-tight pieces as 

 they are today. The result was that more or less moisture 

 was certain to collect within the wooden cabinetwork sur- 



FIG. 311. An expensively furnished bathroom in 1875. 



rounding the fixtures. Such spaces were dark and moist, 

 ideal places for the growth and development of microorgan- 

 isms. A glance at the cut shows the utter impossibility of 

 keeping such a bathroom clean and in a sanitary condition. 



The fixtures used in modern plumbing are strikingly differ- 

 ent from those used a few years ago. Figure 312 shows the 

 equipment of a modern bathroom. Notice (1) that all these 

 fixtures are of one-piece construction, (2) that they are of 

 solid porcelain or enameled iron, (3) that they are so raised 

 from the floor that the space beneath is light, airy, and easily 



