Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-25
How to Detect Sewer Gas.

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correspondent asks for a test to show if or
when sewer gas is present in house. as this
can not always be detected BY the sense of
smell. The languOr and sense Of good-for-
nothingness, poor appetite and weak stomach.
that an active and ordinarily healthy person
may be overtaken with, are supposed by some
good judges to be one proof, in the absence of
the other discOverable causes. Of exposure to
this bad air The 'New York type of spinal
meningitis. the chronic pain in the back of the
neck. as well the chronic condition Of
always tired" are good indications of bad
drainage But the question was not probably
intended to 60 so far as this 1t is pretty safe
to assume that, whenever there are drain pipes
there is more or less sewergas. 1t has been re-
Gently asserted that this gas will pass through
water. so the best regulated traps seem to be
OF little use that it will pass through brick and
sandstone and that it does pass through the
Imperfect joints Of tile pipes
Sewer gas generally carries with 1t sulphuret-
ted hydrogen gas in larger or smaller amounts
The test for this is lead paper-an open glass
tube containing slip of lead paper finoistened
by breathing upon it, laid in the empty wash
basin for while, indicates. 10y the following or
browning OF the paper. the presence of sewer
gas. Also. sewer gas generally contains ammo
MA. This gas generally browns tumeric paper
and slip of this sort of test paper inserted in
the tube alongside the lead paper will give it's
peculiar indication.
1t cannot be too often repeated that sewer gas
need not be conveyed all the way from the
sewers: ana that the ordinary sOapy water from
SET wash-bOwl will leave such a coating upon
the small drain-pipes leading from it as in time
becomes an active gas-maker. The only way
appears to be to keep on disinfecting and puri-
Tying the inlets OF the pipes But to discover
whether the gas from either the sewers or tbe
pipes is escaping through the other parts of the
house, the peppermint test is applied An ounce
of Oil of peppermint in pail of water is poured
into the openings Of the plumbing fixtures at
the upper part Of the house If the smell of
the peppermint escapes by leak anywhere
through the house, on any stairway or by the
hOt-air register OF other rooms this shows that
sewer gas would also escape
A direct leak from an exposed pipe will be
shown, it is said, by holding lighted candle
near it. Not nearly enough OF pipes are ex-
posed; and it is advised to remove the wood
work or closets from around kitchen sinks. or
any fixed covering that prevents free inspection
OF pipes. until they go underground, where they
go out Of sight. And when they 60 out OF sight
there is nothing left but to find out who did the
plumbing and how much or little he knows; or
to tear up the front pavement to see. DR.. For
dNce Barker visited one house in Boston. where
all the rain water and other waste were soaking
directly into the soil Of the back yard. and
where the ground was so constantly damp that
the yard was covered with fine moss II
must be remembered in view OF all this late
uneaSiness about drainage and sewer gas. this
10 VI Tie presence Oh very 0lf1Prent
ditlons from those formerly prevailin. in Phiia-
deiphia. Formerly with the oid-fashioned
bathroom at the end Of the long back build
'ngs, there was only one pipe conveying waste
water only to the surface gutter Of the yard
whence it ran away under the back gate and
through the open gutter to the street. There
was no communication between house and
sewer direct within the house Now i'm thousands
ana thousands of houses water is running from
pipes on every foor, and going by open pipes
soil
be directly to the sewer; it may be only to a
marsh under the cellar. or to make a auspmire
under the front pavement This constant
deluging, dripping and drawing of water goes
somewhere; but whether directly to the sewer,
by Qhe latest recommendation iron pipes with
lead joints, or whether its faint is leaking into
or near the water supply pipes of the house.
who can tell: Or: Willard Parker stated, at a
the introduction Of Crotou water into New York.
he does not remember q single case OF dph-
liberia; with the ground on which great cities
stand 80 thoroughly poison-s0aked a. 1t 10 now.
it would be stu worse for New York or any
city to take to the pumps.
Without any test, 1t is considered danger
Gus thing to sleep In Q room where there is
set washbowl; and inside bathrooms, opening
into sleeping rooms. should be well shut OF
and amply ventilated at night. II the still better
thing of removing them altogether can not be
had. Some permanent Wristbands arc cut off
from the sewer by large turn-stOp In the
drain pipe on level with the floor. but If the
family are subject to forgetfulness and omit to
turn this on when the washbasin is used there
viii be food. The doctors in consultation
over houses. advise people to look sometimes to
the air boxes of their furnaces to see If these are
clear. as occasionally rats or cats are found dead
Ia them, ana TO observe the neighborhood OF the
ar Chamber to either the gas meter or the drain
lpass the dos bins or vegetable baxr4as
Hhaky E1s pipes, gns from broken street nnass
So NE some cellasa, akd ysu scan net5ee:j