THE NEED OF SANITARY PLUMBING 147 



may become the breeding place of insects as well as a place 

 of foul odors. The purpose of this chapter is to point out 

 some of the means by which sewage is removed from the 

 home and rendered harmless to others. We must remember 

 that sewage or material containing wastes from the body 

 substances is very dangerous to health. It has been 

 shown many times that as a result of carelessness, germs 

 from sewage pass into the drinking water or get on the 

 food. It is necessary, therefore, that sewage everywhere, 

 in cities as well as the country, be properly disposed of 

 else it becomes a menace to health. In 1854 there was 

 a great outbreak of Asiatic cholera in London. Some parts 

 of the city were stricken much more than others. In those 

 clays people got their water from wells, and the Broad Street 

 pump had such a reputation for clean, sparkling water, 

 that people from blocks away went to it for their drinking 

 water. It was found, however, that one of the greatest 

 outbreaks of cholera was among people taking water from 

 this well, so the health authorities investigated the condi- 

 tions there. Imagine their horror to find the well water 

 separated by only a single layer of old worn-out bricks 

 from a cesspool which received the waste materials from 

 many cholera patients. As cholera is a disease of the in- 

 testines or bowels millions of germs were being placed in 

 that well water every day. After the well was closed to the 

 public, the epidemic subsided in that part of the city. This 

 is only one instance among many where germs in the water 

 supply have done untold harm. 



The need of sanitary plumbing. In these days it is 

 hardly necessary for people to have outdoor insanitary 

 privies. If an outdoor privy is necessary, then all parts 

 should be carefully screened to prevent flies from getting 



