Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-27
THE SANITARY QUESTION.

city, the following resolutions of the City
Board of Health, passed May IL, 1888. are
given:
ReSolrcd, That in view of the general complaint
made in regard to the bad condition ofensiveness
of the watercosets in different parts Of the city,
and the near approach of warm weather, we urge
upon all to have their cesspoos and vaults early
ceansed, where needing such cleansing, and whether
requiring emptying or not to have them thoroughly
RESOLVED, further That we recommend the use of
the Cottier plan OF ventilatng water-closets, our
reason for SO recommending it being that, besides
by its operation in conducting all gases through ues
in the walls and out at the top OF the roof that
they cannot escape up through the opening in the
seat the active evaporation maintained by it from
such cesspoos and vaults lessons their contents
as to supersede in great measure, the necessity
for the removal Of such contents by the employment
of an excsvator or otherwise.
Resolved, That the Health Officer be hereby in
strueted to draw the attention OF the public to these
resolutions whenever he may ascertain that their
warnings are applicable and to abate promptly all
nuisances that may come under his observation,
be justly complained Of by any aggrieved person
Resolved, furthermore, That We respectfully
recommend to the Board Of Trustees that they have
quantity and pressure of noxious gases, always pres
ent in such drains, would be very much lessened,
and their liability TO enter houses and create disease
be thereby much diminished.
LETTER UPON THE SUBJECT,
EDS. RECORD. UNION: Much has been
well said by you editorially lately, SIS well sc
By several correspondents, in regard to the
sanitary condition and needs of this city, and
the Board of Health passed and had pub
lished more than two months ago series of
very sensible and practical resolutions on the
same subject; but. apart from the active
efforts of the jealous sud eff Gent new
Health Officer 90 abate nuisances by enforc-
lug the emptying Of q few cesspools, nothing
comparatively has been done, and the season il
now well spent for the execution of the par
ticular character of work recommended and
necessary without there being much prospect
that anything worthy the occasion will be &C.
comphshed. Our people are too deaf and III
different to such Wholesome appeals, and are
too Unappreciatiye and apsthetic as to the
perils that menace them, 80 be aroused TO q
proper sense of their duty to themselves or
to engage with adequate earnestness and eff.
cheney in tae naturalization or removal Of the
manifest evils that surround them. They
must, therefore, be educated TO perceive
clearly the danger, ard be taught bow TO ap-
ply suitable remedies for the unssnitary con-
ditions existing; and the best way 60
enlighten their minds aud to lead TO bsDef-
cal results will be TO commence at once Wig
orous practical WORK, IN accordance with cor
rect principles and methods, 60 serve as in.
structiYe illustrations aud guides.
The resolutions alluded to as having been
passed by the Board of Health contained
sound advice, but they seem 20 have been
virtually unhseded and forgotten, and, there
fore. suggest that they be repubhshed, that
they may serve as basis or nucleus for com.
prehensive plans, TO be carried out as soon
nE thnrv do ~ fur
enough in detail, nor do the recommends
tions offered, edito-ially or by correspond
ents The filling Of sloughs, Cellars and low
lots; tha removal CT filth, including the con-
tents OF cesspools aud sewers, and the dis
posal Of sewage by pumping it into the river
as ready resort for immediate relief (sl-
though the pollution of streams should never
be practieed If avoidable), are all, il may be
conceded, in the right direction, but can only
be executed by degrees and, 90 be effective,
these things, and all else having a like object
in view, must be engaged In with one mind,
and in earnest cooperation, by the entire
population. The isolated or fragmentsry
work towards such eads, az is now being car
ried on, can accomplish but little good, aud
is really puerile and unworthy this enlight.
ened and energetic community, I'D relates TO
business generally. There must be general
and haSmonioGs consent aud coccsrted ard
movement in the important
undertaking TO insure its being really success
ful and beneficial,
But too little prominence has been given in
the meantime TO tha most indispensable
measure of any ether, and that is ventila-
ton. Il ia well understood by ssnitarians
and medical men, and should be by all who
will think a moment, that filth accumula-
tons, whether on the surface, IN csegpools or
in Sewers, cause mischief mainly OF exclu.
sively, except when they contsminate water,
through the gases or etfilvis that may smsn-
ate from than and the most apparent and
pressing neei is to 50 confne and conduct
these n0xious exhibitions as to keep them out
of dwellings and away from the persons or
the potable water of the people. The
first step to be taken. therefore, is TO effecs
the general ventilation Of sewers, cesspools,
privies and water.closets, besides eventually,
as may be convenient or practicable, of all
apartments in which persons may dwell or
congregate. The Cottier plan of ventilation
has been recommended by the Board of Health
as being more suitable and effective than any
other for the ventilation of privie5 or water.
closets, for reasons that were given in their
resolutions, and this COUNSEL should be needed
and accepted. 1t matters not who may bs
the inventor or owner of patented plan, or
into whose pocket few dollars might be
placed in consequence Of its adoption.
Neither psrtiality nor prejudice, nor any per-
sonal consideration Whatever, should have
any weight in deciding SIS to the selection Of
any particular msthod. The only legitimate
question is as to what "a best judged strictly
by It's merits for the protection or benefit Of
any individual, or Of the community at large.
I believe the plan alluded TO not only ths
best, but the oaly really effective one, for
ventilating privies and water closets, for it
is the only plan wherein very strong up.
ward draft is maintained from the cesspool
through ample fnes 10 the walls, and then
out at the top of the roof through suction
ventilator that adds strength to such draft.
By its peculiar action, no gases can escsps
upward from the vault through the opauiug
in the seat, but. on the contrary, there is al
ways downward current of pure hir through
that opening; and the evaporation is SO &C.
tive from such vault or cesspool, that its
LIQUID contents are constantly carried off
in a vapory form to such extent IS to
keep down the mass to a low stage, and hence
to prevent the filing and overflow Of
such receptacle for an indefinite time. and
thereby obviate the necessity, the annoyance
aad the expense of removing such contents for
q like indefinite period, either by the employ.
ment of an excayator or otherwise. Instead
of having thesa gases and vapors escape at
it would be better TO fit large wooden hne
closely TO the opening in the roof, to extend
it up above the neighboring housetops, and
then to cap it with suction ventilator. If
such course were pursued in ventilsting all
the cssspools, privies and water-closets in
the city we would have perfectly pure at.
mosphere to breathe, and would unquestion-
ably enjoy higher degree of immunity from
disease than ever before experienced. The
cost Of such arrangement or ventilation would
be bnt light burden upon each individual,
and If the plan recommended were generally
adopted, the patentees should, a1d doubtless
would. be satisfied to charge only very
moderate royalty for its use.
The Board of Health also recommended to
the Board of Trustees to have the sewers Of
the city ventilated, as they always have in
them more or less sewer gas, the pressure Of
which is generally sufficient to force it
through the soil pipes into the dwellings of
the people, there to cause disease in the IN
suspscting inmates. The comparatively
trifing outlay necessary 20 carry cut such a
measure could not be better expended in the
interest of the community. fact that would
soon be recognized and acknowledged. The
Board of Trustees, in purchasing the right to
use the most effective method for ventiating
the sewers and the city's public buildings,
would not act, as all would know, to favor or
subserve the interest of shy particular person
or set of persons, but solely with an eye
single TO the public welfare; and I am con-
6dent that IN such action they would be fully
sustained by Just public sentiment.
The Board OF Health, while recommending
the CLEANSING of existing cesspools also adj