The Portland daily press., 1884-03-22
House Drainage.

lW 2. Trowbridge in Harper's Magazine for April.]
Custom, luxury, and fashion, as affecting
the interior arrangements of DWELLINGS,, have
gradually converted house drainage into a
source of danger which does not properly
belong to it as hygienic element in a sani-
tary system. Before the art of construction
OF the purely mechanical arrangements
to its present state OF excellence, and, in
deed, before the insidious dangers connect
ed with it were discovered or understood,
the fashion of placing the openings through
which house refuse is discharged into the
sewers within the very innermost recesses
and most imperfectly ventilated parts of
dwellings was introduced as a matter of
convenience or sO-called luxury. When the
evil consequences of this began to be lelt,
remedies in the form of traps and plumbing
devices we're multiplied, until finally, after
the inventions of more than quarter of a
century have been brought to bear Oh the
subject, we are obliged to confess that the
problem is not satisfactorily solved. While
it is true that, through the progress of the
ed by sad experiences, there has heen dur
ing the last few years decided amelioration
OF evils which for long time numbered
victims by thousands, yet no system of con-
strncJion or patent devices which has been,
or probably will be introduced, eau be pro-
nounced perfectly and permanently safe, so
long as the present custom continues of
placing plumbing convenience, within the
walls OF living, and, above all, OF sleeping
rooms. Pipes will decay, traps will become
unseaied, the water supply will occasionally
be intermitted or suspended, drains will be-
come foul or leak. And when we consider
The impracticability of constant supervis-
ion, especially in rented or tenement houses,
by competent persons, aud the cost of such
supervision, so reluctantly borne even in
case OF the most fragrant defects-defects
which usually announce themselves by the
outbreak of disease, and perhaps by deaths
it is Impossible not TO feel that the system
as it is now generally practiced, should be
abandoned.
1t is, of course, impracticable to change
at once the house drainage OF buildings al
ready built and occupied. In Most cases
The cost OF so doing would be too great for
the ordinary tenant or householder to bear
and it is well to introduce more perfect
traps, and every precaution which can be
devised to render more efficient, without
great expense, existing constructions and ar
rangements; but wherever proprietors are
willing to undergo the expense. and above
all in new designs, it appears little less than
inhuman for architects and builders to ad-
here TO system which exposes all-espec-
tally women and children, who are most
confined in doors--to the deadly and insldi-
GUS concentrations of the air of dwellings
which arise from the numerous fixtures
which have direct connections with Sc wers.
II is, moreover, not always the sewer gases
that do The most harm, out the polsons
which are generated in the plumbing pipes
and house drains themselves, and which
arise from the very use of the conveniences
IN the first instance. There is remedy SO
simple, especially in all new designs, that it
is almost Uncomfortable that il has not al
ready become universal, viz, to confine the
closets, bathrooms, lavatories, and all other
s0-called conferences within an annex, or
within impervious walls at the rear OF dwell
ings, reaching from the cellar to the roof.
Such inclOsed space may be warmed and
ventilated more thoroughly aud easily than
any other part of dwelling. ANY leakage
would not affect the air of the dwelling,
while the total cost of the plumbing would
be greatly reduced.
This system has frequently been suggest
ed during the last few years, and it's great
advantages were forcibly presented recently
by DR.. Hamilton, OF this city.