The New York herald., 1876-09-15
DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE.

FATAL DEFECTS IN THE PRESENT sYsTEM-THE
TXrENT OF THE DANGER AND HOW II MAY
IE AVOIDED.
\ chief of disease and mortality In this city Is
thought by the Board OF Health aud others competent
10 judge be the univorsaty OF defective house drain
age. Thousands OF deaths annually eau be traced d
reoy to tins Tho fatal effect of odors cscap-
ins from the pipes which convey waste water, &c,
from houses to the street is the alarming prev
ncncc OF diphthera and various pest,lentai levers
throughout the warmer months There be 70
oupt that the annual mortality would be decreased by
thousands II proper steps were taken 10 secure
eneeni system OF drainage, and the attention OF the
public should be called the subject Is TOO
laie to adopt any remedy.
This is an affection which, although chiefly felt by
The vlcrity Of the Five Points. but
is oitoutimes found the finest mansions
Tn Murray Ri The occupants OF tenement houses
are OF course, the greatest sufferers. These tenement
houses are generally ivc six height
and have II large pipe running from root 10 basement
Each with this outlet by mcaus Of
asink \ soii plpc or house from the eel ar
TO the street In the sewer there Is always ar
less pulrd garbage this being stirred by the rush
of water IN stormy weather. generates carbonc acid
gas. sulphuraicd hydrogen and siuIlar gases equally
iaiai These escaping from the sewer in,o the house
dram, rise thence anc l!l the pipes The
Becoming pcnt up here, only through
sinks which are often in close bedroom. he
asirous effect upon the sleepcrs who inhale these
hoNous odoTs Tor six 0r eight hours every night may
wcl DC Imagined Ine Simplest and. indeed, only
means OF preventing these gases from penetrating
into the rooms Is 10 provide the pipes
with 'traps'-bends in the pipe in the
shape OF the letter :. horizon tai
position. There should be a trap the house drain
where II may readily be reached from the basement.
TheL there should bc another each of he small pipes
leading IRON the sink to the wall pipe and with
slight precaution II would be ply sicay impossible
any ocor - escape from the the house. IL
is necessary TO have smaller traps under sinks
the larger one may be cmpued by suction from the
werliurns severe storm. As th,r prccaution
tho wall pipes instead of terminating the ceiling
the upper oor might be continued abJvc the roo. and
lett open, beng covered with wide spreading, couicai
cap
Physicians and inspectors OF tue Board of Health
make frequent rocnds uf inspection. and whenever
household s found suffering from diseases cugcndcred
by sewer gases order Tor repairs sent the pro
prictor oi the building, who obliged to follow Its
Instructions. When the owners of tenement
houses find that detective sewerage "A
source oi danger TO the occupants of their
bindings they make haste put their
private residences IN repair but all they caa
10 avoid any outlay Tor the benefit OF their tenants
successful There seeius TO bca
PRofo;rNn IGNORANCE
the city in regard To the fatal results from
defective drainage, but when Informed OF the oangcr
there l. equally profound desire To- avoid Many
prominent and wcsliny citizens every day request
ing OF their residences by the spcctors
vi the Board Health and showing srea; aacrity TO
upon their Suggestions