The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-01
DANGER IN OUR DWELLINGS.
PHYSICIANS IxPLIINING THE DEADLY
EEILCTS or sEUER GAS.

Properly Construct Drainage Pipe.-ittrn
tiop tailed to the Hunters Point Nuisance.
"This subject. the awakening Of public at
tention to the dangers nj sewer ens poison"
snid the venerable Or. Willard Parker. 9" is ono
OF the highest importance. and has my entire
sympathy Indeed. know Of none moro vital
10 our well being. vet at the same time. strange
10 say. there has been scarcely any con 'erning
which there has been more popular apathy ana
Ignorance. vnst amount OF our family sirk-
nesses. such as diphtheriac sore throas. ma
laria and typhoid fevers have their origins in
the influences OF the foul gases from the sewers
carried by defective plumbing into our pnrlors
and bedrooms; and many other serious and
often fatal affections although not 50 orignat-
ing. are aggravated and intensified by the same
causes. 1t has only been in late years that this
subject has bcen given the importance in san-
tary consideration that 1t deserves; but now no
intelligent physician Of any school. in Europe
or this country. ventures to underrate it. We
cannot but see constantly in our practice tho
deleterous effects Of this insidious poison in
the atmosphere Of patients houses. Let there
be In two houses. one Of which has pure air.
while the atmosphere OF tho other is infected
with sewer gHses. two scarlet fever patients
OF the same age. and "a nearly
possible equal physical conditions prior to the
attack Of the disease. and It Will be found that.
despite the most intelligent treatment and caro-
on the part OF the physician. the patient in the
impure atmosphere will be almost certain TO
die. while the chances are that simple good
care and very little medicine will easily bring
through to health the one who has had pure air
TO breathe There Is no class 81 dwellings,
cure from this infection. nnd no one is safe
from The poison ia the air, even If his own
house is in perfect order. whose neighbours
house is not equally perfect Sewer gas is ter
rlbly nsidous. l, Will lnd tia" smallest vents
that careless or dishonest plumbing has left.
andthroush the minuicst crevices will make lie
way into every part Of n building or even into
adjoining build ngs. Our big hotels need sharp
looking after upon this matter. From a con-
vcrsntion had with q patient only dry or two
ago. feel assured that sewer gas permrutes
one Of our largest md supposedly best hotels.
and is poisoning IL inmates. And our finest
private residences are not irre from T. know
nnrent brown stone mansion, and moved into
IT, with the almost immediate result Of several
members Of the family baing taken sick and
dying rom defective plumbing in the house. as
was clearly den Oustr0ted upon invest Cation.
Since the plumbing has been repaired; So as To
ex lude the sewer gasrs. the house has been per-
fe.tly healthiul, AndthUn look ~ our trnemrnts.
What terrible places they nre' You cannot put
roof To- cook wash. eat. ana ~l""p and keep them
healthy. unless you SURROUND them with The
most rerfe' conditions oi drainage an! Nent-
laton thai sunitarys noe can prescribe. Yet.
rs u rule, their condition nre oi the most i'm
y rife I character. THE SUN has shown some
th NJ Of what they are. Ia many oi them the
sewer gases are hubtually portion % their
Emit n' At intci Ills yentia,on. Ii had ID m,
way-the power :! ah.llish them ! mean-there
would not be on " nnaiian ISLAND IN sixmonihs
nslngle one Of the sgrt 81 hnudnsS W. now
know as tenemenis. ! have strons hope that
when We Get rapld irensit 70 ne eSSircme upper
exerte1 by the creation Of greater number OF
individual homes and smaller buildings f9r
good be achieved hy drawing or part OF our