Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-27

manifested by four or i've Of their number.
The dispatches received to-day. howev.
err. confirm the impressions Of the public.
Mrs. Wharton is declared mot guilty"
The prisoner and her friends seemed to
know the character Of the verdict before
it was announced, and appeared in court
In good spirits. They were supported by
numbers Of personal friends, and the court
room was crowded BY the interested pub
lie. ----- .--.-------.-.. .-.-- .----
The announcement of Mrs. Wharton's
acquittal will be generally received with
great satisfaction. It Il certainly CRAFTY
ing to know that lady who moved in re-
fined circles and who. in her previous
character and associations, was all that
could be desired, is innocent of the dread
full crime against God and man, with
which she has been charged. We con-
graduate her friends, her city and her
State, no less than the prisoner herself,
on the happy result Of one of the most
notable trials Of modern times"
INDOOR VENTILATION
An English scientific journal has recently
and very ably discussed the grave problem of
indoor ventilation. 1t IL q matter of the
greatest marvel that while engineers have
provided the means Of draining out cities Of
| their noisome and residential matter, ~ yet
nothing has been done to prevent the infec-
ton Of our houses and bedrooms by the ex.
halations Of the sewer. It 10 probable that
very few Of our most intelligent citizens have
ever reflected upon the possible distribution
Of deadly poison among the inmates of their
dwellings and even their palatial residences
from the common drain Of the whole city
population.
1t has generally been supposed that when
the streets are kept clean and the sewers in
good order municipal prudence has nothing
more to do. 1t 10 very certain that in the
present atmospheric condition of our Eastern
cities the epidemics Of the season will make
rapid strides without these sanitary precau.
tons. But we need to look further. 1t has
been shown very clearly that the foul and dis.
ease-laden air Of the public sewer can and
does obtain admission into our chambers
through the soil pipe, the bath outlet pipes
and the pipes which connect our bathrooms
with the subterranean drain. 1t was con.
clusiveiy shown by the medical press of Eng
land that even the elegant saloons and tapes-
tried rooms of Londesborough Lodge were
tainted and impregnated with foul sewer gas,
and that the late illness Of the Prince OF
Wales was due to this exciting cause. 1t IL
very clear, too, there must be a constant
pressure Of the sewer air on the pan or trap
Of the closet which must inevitably lead to an
infiltration Of the poisonous vapor into the
| house. If We suppose that the excremental
matter which passes through the sewer in
epidemic seasons is capable Of conveying dis
eases, - we know it is, the most Clearly and
elegant mansion on our finest avenues, and
even our sumptuous suburban villas, are seen
to be in direct communication with the most
filthy and putrescent nests of disease in the
worst tenement houses.
The open pipes in the house (Which are
also introduced into every bedroom) in
performing their functions in removing
waste water are 20 many vents for the
deadliest vapors confined in the sewerage
The foul air returns and insinuates itself
into our houses by more than one process.
wind pressure, exerted on the open mouth
Of the sewer at great distances from the
house, or such pressure on any street corner
| sewer opening, at once sends the infectious
masma into the internal atmosphere of our
dwelling. The increase Of the specific grav-
ity Of the external atmosphere also forces the
sewer air into our nostrils. Even the draft
OF chimneys in tight building. and especial
ly when it is closed at night, must be fed and
kept up partly through the numerous small
pipes which connect with the general sewer
drainage.
| All these unsuspected avenues Of death are
alarming, because no amount Of care and
cleanliness can avert the danger, so long as
our houses are arranged as at present. But
the remedy is not difficult one No cesspit,
sink or trap should be allowed anywhere in
side the walls Of the dwelling but these
should be constructed outside, and charcoal
strainers and filters be extensively employed
As our London cotemporary-Nature-s
gests, the pneumatics of the private dwelling
are quite a. important as the hydraulics, an
the dozen or more small pipes of sinks, baths,
&C., should every one be made to empty, no,
directly into the sewer, but should be collect
ed and allowed to discharge their contents
INTO the open air over q trap communicating
with the house drain, 40 that refux of sewer
gas into the house would be simply impossi.
ble."