, 1881-04-17

! 4 represents a pan Of tho wnter-closet into
which wns fitted, air-tight. nn inverted tin fun
mel Z. Fisa vessel ut tirss ltlled WITH water, SC
allowed to tr1ckle out. mir must bc drnwu
| through the S ,rapC the funnel H. the tubing
u anu the liquids IN the . tubes Z f 10 order to
fill up the vacuum formed in the upper portion
oiE; ,on,.1.
9trte Of 1sa the ar teo the
hydrogen will he shown by hrown-nlack pre-
ciptalc appearing In the liquid. When they nrt
tilled with Mcssler's rcagcnt and this ufr again
drawn through ammonia. If there, will show its
presence by changing the liquid to yellow
brown color, or throw down bright red pre-
ciptnte. IN the experiments Dr. Patton con-
Quoted he obtained decided evidence Of the
passage of these gases through the water Of the
S trap into the liquid Of tho $ tubes. although
their odor by the ordinary method
WAS NOT MANIFEST.
Dr.. Paton then describes in his report very
carefully tho experiments with the same up
paratus. which, he cl;allncd, resulted In the pro-
ti,1ctiun Of two sets Of sun,pts,-thosc which
we're secured while the gerncide was not In the
trup, and tiluse which were secured when 1t wns.
These were handed to Slr. Thomas, the micro
tlut the samples taken while tho Rermicide sras
MT in use were living with bAcierju while
the others were nearly FREQ from tho living or
EAftSMs. .-
Dr. Patton explains that the nse OF the germf-
eide il to produce constant stream OF solution
OF chloride OF zinc into the pan and trap Of the
closet and an Intermittent supply Ut thy1nul,
all exceedingly powerful neriAl nnt'septic,
and adds that In his opinion zinc chloride will
not only prerent tthetlecompost,on Of fecal mai
have ulrculy decolnposed. He sums up his opin-
lon Of tho Grimicide" by stutng that be be-
llcyes it - to DC singuIarly appropriately named,
md to perform ult that is said OF lr-yIX., nnti
scpu0n."-
THE REPORT OF DIR. DE WOLF
is Us follows:
HEALTH DEpAnrMEST, April 1G. 1ss0-To The
Nrt1n
Jr. Ut New York called my attention 10 an ap-
puratus designed to supply Il constnnt and uni
iurln quantity nj II solution Of chloride of zinc
to TIE wntcr passing into TIC basin Of the ordi-
nury water closet towi. The results to be- oh
taincd hy the prescncc Of this mineral salt were
satd III be tho entire antiseption OF the water.
and the destruction Of all Orgalnfc germs coming
in contact with it from the sewer mir III tho Pipe
below aud connected with the bowl.
ton single oue Ut theanany methods and systems
designed tu accomplish this purpose and which
have been brough 10 my attention during the
pnst four years. . ...-
Wr, Mal!ctt presented to nc so many letters
from medical gentlemen with whom am nc
ounjnrcd in New York. commenting him aud
cap nta pi1i, 1hercfore requested Dr. Futon, Chem
ist OF the Health Department., and Mr. g. ".
Thomas, President OF the Su,e Micloscoptcal
Society, to undertake the work. Their reports
were received this morning, and, covering q
weeks lnbor. ,trc of SO much interest thar l do
NOT nestate to Siss then TO- the public
n measure new to me-i.e.. the readiness with
which organic germs pass through the water OF
Il sewer trap, and are thrown otr from the free
surface into the atmosphere Of Il rHuH-
From the experiments detailed by DR.. Patton
aud Sir. Thnmas, and many of which l wit
messed, must concur in their opinion that as
at present constructed and used. traps, however
well supplied with water. can only act rs very
temporary obstruction To the passage Of dis
ease germs into our homes from the sewers
with which they are connected; and agatE. that
It ia entirely practicable to render the water 10
these traps so perfectly asepttc as to destroy all
disease bearing germs that come In contact