The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-04-17
illustrated by the perfume which the White
Sulphur spring dit,uses into the surround

ltlustraLeQ py the perfume WHICH Cne w Dlte
Sulphur spring ditfuses into the surround
ing atmosphere). BY the operation Of these
properties, the water contained in the trap
OF Water-closet, being in contact on one
side with column OF air In free communi
cation with the interior Of the sewer, will
become speedily charged with the gases
contained In that air, and will directly ex-
hale them on the other side into the air OF
the closet, and through it into the air OF the
chamber IL the closet and the chamber COM
municate with each other.
Is any further proof needed that reli-
ance upon the trap for the exclusion OF
sewer-gas from our dwellings is g a delusion
and snare"? Perhaps there may be bet
ter traps than those in ordinary use, or BET,
ter ones may be Invented in the future; but
| so long as a small quantity OF water is the
only medium Of resistance employed to the
passage OF the gas, the trap, whatever its
| form, must be liable, in greater or less de-
gree, to the objections above presented.
What other means, then, can we employ
to obviate the seWer-gas evil or to reduce it
to nainimana The plan suggested by
Captain Dimmock, "to connect the tin
down-conductors from the roof with the
drain-pipes before they enter the house,"
though cheap and convenient, is liable to
ODiSCIiOus. IL EIOfiUSS 10 OuIlcG
for the sewer-gas which fills the soil pipe
and drain from the trap above (perhaps in
the second or third story OF the house)
Fdownto the point at which the conductor
enters the drain. Moreover, during q heavy
fall OF rain, when free outlet for the sewer
air is most urgently needed, the conductor
is filed with water rushing down from the
roof into the drain; and at best the con-
ductor discharges the air ascending from
the sewer at the eaUes of the house. II the
house happen to have dormer windows, or
If there be such windows on an adjoining
house, this arrangement will cause stream
of air direct from the sewer TO enter those
windows whenever they are open and when
the wind sets in that direction.
far better plan, which has received the
endorsement Of high authorities, and which
has been introduced to limited extent in
Richmond and more largely elsewhere with
satisfactory results, is to connect pipe of
sufficient Calibre with the soil-pipe below
the trap, and convey it up through the roof
to level with the top Of the chimney, or
higher still; or, what amounts to the same,
If there be several closets on different floors,
let the main soil-pipe thus extend upwards
above the roof, and let the pipes from the
several closet-traps enter it laternlly in such
way as not to interfere with the free up
ward movement of the air. It is obvious
that with this arrangement there can be no
pressure of sewer-gas against the closet
traps, and that the foul air will find free
and harmless discharge into the atmosphere
above the level of all windows. While it
will be difficult in most cases to introduce
this excellent arrangement into old houses,
it is earnestly recommended to all who pro-
pose building, and who desire to secure not
only convenience and comfort but health
in their dwellings.
But there are things to be done outside
of our dWelings-measures to be adopted
by the municipal authorities less i'm
portant than proper internal arrangements
to ward off the dangers attendant upon the
sewerage system. These are chiefly (after
the proper construction and grading in the
first instance) the efficient ventilation of the
public Se,cers and the thorough flushing Of
them from time to time to keep them free
from accumulations and consequent OBJ
structions. 1t is satisfactory to know that
the first of these objects is receiving the
earnest attention of our Board Of Health
and City Engineer. L. S. j.
I'm the West Virginia oil-region we have
heard the water make Just the same noise
as If violently boiling, though it was cold.
The noise was caused by escaping gas.] -