1875.] b<d [Horn. 



which no one of the members has been affected, while in many several 

 cases have occurred. This prevalence may be thought all the more re- 

 markable when we consider the great external and internal cleanliness of 

 the houses of our better classes of citizens. 



There can be but little doubt that our house-drainage has contributed 

 more to the detriment of the health of the above-mentioned citizens than 

 those causes which are generally complained of. Owing to faulty con- 

 struction of the drain-pipes, sewer gases find ready entrance into our 

 houses and in certain directions of the wind and during a high tide these 

 gases are di'iven backward from the mouths of the main sewers, and the 

 offensive odors are perceived in the rooms in which are water-closets or sta- 

 tionary wishstands. These gases force themselves through the usual 

 tra.ps because there is no other means usually provided for their exit. 



Every house provided with a system of under-drainage should have a 

 draft-pipe of large size leading from the drain upward, in a straight line 

 above the roof of the house and open at the top so that a free draft may 

 be allowed. Into this all water-closets or other waste- j)ipes should enter 

 at a right angle, after a proper trap, and no waste-pipe should empty 

 into any conductor unless the latter extend above the roof and be open 

 at the top. Any attempt at obviating the evil, such as small draft- pipes 

 from each water-closet to a chimney, etc., has been proven practically to 

 be of no. value. 



The fault in the constructioa of the water-closets consists in placing 

 that of the upper story, practically on the end of the main conducting 

 pipe, and it is for this reason that it has been noticed that water-closets 

 which are highest in the house are most offensive. Thus no external 

 draft for gases is allowed for, and their entire volume must be discharged 

 in the house, greatly to the detriment of the health of the inhabitants. 

 The remedy suggested is easy of accomplishment, cheap, and effectual. 



The ordinary methods of warming our houses by means of heaters of 

 varying construction in the cellars, have without doubt some effect on 

 those who breathe the air sent through the house /rom the cellar. Cellars 

 are not usually the cleanest portions of dwellings, and are too often left to 

 the care of servants, to become the respositories of rubbish, and at times 

 filth, which accummulate, and the usual dampness of cellars together 

 with the even temperature maintained are favorable to slow putrefactive 

 processes, which yield germs by no means harmless. There can be but 

 one remedy for this evil. All air to be distributed in a heated form should 

 be drawn from the external atmosphere, and as hot air is distributed by 

 means of pipes so also can pure air be obtained from the outside and 

 taken directly to the hot chamber of the heater. 



These remarks are necessarily short, but will, I hope, serve to call the 

 attention of architects, and builders to at least two very serious defects in 

 the "better class" of houses. 



