The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-22
POISON ON THE HEIGHTS.
DE1DLY GASES IN SOME or BROOK
LYNS BEST MANSIONS.
The Health Omcers' Report on Condition or
the House In which the Millionaire Lea
Their Merchant James y. Rockwell Died.

The Health Onicers' Report on Coalition or
the House In which the Millionaire Lea
Their Merchant James y. Rockwell Died.
The interesting topic before the Brooklyn
Health Board yesterday afternoon was the con-
sidoraton OF the result Of tho sanitary inspec-
ton Of the mansion OF tho late james s. Rock
vol at Montague terrace. The house was
built by its owner at an expense OF over $4,000.
and furnished with everything that tho most
skllful builders and architects could suggest.
and In short time II proved to be vast re-
coptaclo OF poisonous and noxious cases. caus-
ing the sickness In turn OF nearly every mem
Der of the household. and the death OF It's wealthy
master. and OF his favorto Rrandchild. Tho
house Is one OF four on the west side Of Mon
tague terrace. commanding grand view OF tho
bay and OF the noighboring Cities 1t was Mr..
Rockwelfs chief pride. and he thought that no
had a perfect home The residents In the aris-
tocratic neighborhood disputed that Mr.. Rock
wells death was caused by sewer gas. and not
only averred that theirs were the hcalthest
homes in Brooklyn. but that anything uttered to
the contrary was with view OF bencntlng prop
ertv elsewhere. The result OF the sanitary sur
vcy shows that Mr.. Rockwell house formed the
apex Of sewer system. and acted rs an exhaust
OF all the poisonous gases In the pipes. and that
grave faults existed in the ventilation and tho
plunlDlng, WncIc nc tuOuRht no nau huoptcu
the finest plans
The report declares that the experience Of tho
Board shows that sewer gas and diphtherla arc
intimately connected. 1t ia rare that in house
invaded by this disease the Sanitary Inspector
does not find an open sewer pipe. open either
at some defective point. which acarcess plumb
er had closed with putty. or at some basin.
which. that his profits might be the greater. he
had left unirappcd. thus inviting the sewer gas
TO enter unobstructcd. Occasionally no appa-
rcnt connection can bc established between bad
plumbing and diphthcria. hut the expert even
then. 10y careful animation and experiment.
finds that wnlle traps have been provided. thew
become uns rnlrd under certain, or rather I'M
certain conditions ana practically ceaa. to be
traps. The proper and safe plumbing Of dwell
ing houses. thc report SAYS. oven when the cost
~ nat IN question Is not thor9nghly UNDER
report goes on:
The deAt, Mr Rockwell has directed the attention
never ica s ~ a 70 been s' s re%as II
many who. b,'sin.ss ha. -cn With the Health once,
city Il thi, nuu-s d. hvad'df This feeling has in rrea,
m"asurs b. acc 10 efforts OF this department to
r,cuy defective plumbing IN houses where dphtleria
There j. Proeah, no roron Of our city which Is In
need 81 such D n ct plumbing o. the Heights. and
uc-s and nt, r,cmni sti,cis drop almost pcrpendicn
ary from the iank Fnmsn street fali Of atty cet
AMI THIS condition 4, na"is unnsual prccauuNs In the
with the wer Nontssnc terrace but hasa SEPARATE
aS Fs S me S ad le s, n p1 ls,
queut com plants made hy those living
AZ the crown 1t the lust the highest point
TITS point IN tbs occupied by Mr. Rock
wells huus'. aud fr nh-urr trap hgtwcen tile house
aud the sever masses continuous channel the sewer
through the dwelling Until 10 escapes at the roof
The EXAMINATION tuA confirmed the opinion 0f this
dvrartucu mat diphurttt - caused hy gas
mat tht- ease u no exception a. Tie rule
The ventilation 81 tho sewers OF this district
| il strongly recommended 10y the report. The
report concludes that since the occupancy Of
| the house some one or moro traps must have
| been unsenl"d. and sewer air has been drawn
| into the apartments in which the unsealed
| traps were located. and these were the apart
| menis occupied 10y the persons affected.
| Tho report of the Inspector recommends n
diseonn"ciion 81 IN" house pipes from the public
sewer by means OF "A trap NJ the rear wall OF the
cellar in the hvc-inch iron pipe. aud three
| inch iron pipe inlet on the house side OF tho
| trap from the outer mir 20 allow fresh air to DO
| drawn into tho house pipes; that separate air
| pipes bc carried M on both lines of water
| closets, ana connections made from this pipe to
| each Water closet trap close up To- the trap
| that separate air pipes b. carried from each
| wash basin and -lnS trap To- prevent siphonago
OF said traps that tue overflow pipe Of the tan
| be disconnected from the soil 81 pc and trapped
| 10 some trap that "a used frequently. The
rcrnuln euduuouS were adopted hy TIE Board.
| Tho different members of the Board "a pressed
their surprise AT the picture drawn by the re-
port.