532 ' [Assembly 



damp from the retentiveness of the soil on which they are con- 

 structed. 



This dampness rises by absorption to the upper iioors of the 

 house in proportion to the absorbent nature of the materials used 

 for building; after these houses have been occupied for some 

 time, fevers of a typhoid form are generated and much aggravated 

 by the dampness. Whenever I see houses springing into existence 

 on inefficiently drained impervious clay land, I can at once foretel 

 bilious, typhus, and intermitting fevers, rheumatism, colds, scrofula 

 and sundry other diseases, all the consequence of dampness. 

 Toward sun-down from any elevated contiguous piece of ground^ 

 you may observe white fogs overhanging such a district, plainly 

 indicating to the physician the location where his attendance will 

 always be required. Good drainage will remove the cause of 

 these mists, and insure the health of the district. Such vapors 

 aiising from dampness, form a vehicle for the diffusion of the 

 emanations from cesspools of noxious gases and decomposing 

 vegetable and animal substances, which are inhaled morning, noon 

 and night by the residents, depressing their spirits, and inducing 

 the use of liquors, opium and other stimulants to relieve them 

 from the feeling of oppression. It has been supposed by persons 

 who have not had much practical knowledge of town drainage, 

 that the w^ater from the roofs of dwellings, as well as from streets, 

 should be separated from the refuse removed by house drains, and 

 carried away by separate drains, but the fact is, that water from 

 the roofs contains soot and dirt, and is actually as foul as sewer 

 water, therefore it would be unnecessary to go to the expense of a 

 double set of drains. The complete drainage of the agricultural 

 portion of the natural drainage area in which a town is placed, is 

 ol great importance to prepare it for the reception of the town 

 manures, particularly if they are to be applied in a liquid form> 

 by sewage irrigation, and also for the drainage of the roads, to en- 

 hance their durability and usefulness. The interest of every town 

 and city urgently demand particular attention to the drainage of 

 its suburban land; for excess of moisture most powerfully influ- 

 ences the local climate, both as to dryness and temperature, as is 

 shown under the following heads : 



