Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-04
Then get in cab an g'ome!"
House Drainage.

". P. Trowbridge, in Harrers Magazine
Custom, luxury and fashion, as affecting the
interior arrangements of dwellings, have grad
ually converted house drainage into a source of
danger which does not properly belong to it as
a hygienic element In a sanitary system. Be-
fore the art of construction of the purely me-
chanical arrangements which belong to house
drainage was brought to its present state of ex-
cellence, and, indeed, before the nsidiOus dan
gers connected with 1t were discovered or I'M
derstOod, 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
matter Of convenience or so-called
luxury. When the evil consequences of this
began to be felt, remedies in the form of traps
and plumbing devices were multiplied until,
finally after the Inventions of more than quar-
ter of century have been brought to bear on
the subject, we are obliged to confess that the
problem Is not yet satisfactorily solved. While
it is true that, through the progress of the me-
chanic arts and constant study. stimulated By
sad experiences, there has been during the last
few years decided ameOration OF evils
which for long time numbered victims by
thousands. yet no system Of construction or
patent devices which has been, OF probably
will be- introduced can be pronounced perfectly
and permanently safe, 30 long as the present
custom continues of placing plumbing conve-
nlences within the walls of living, and, above
all. OF sleeping rooms. Pipes will decay, traps
will become unseaed, the water supply will
occasionally be intermitted or suspended. drains
will become foul or leak. And when we consider
the impracticability of q constant supervision,
especially in rented or tenement houses BY
competent persons. and the cost OF such super
vision, so reluctantly borne even in case Of the
most fragrant defects-defects which usually
announce themselves by the outbreak of dis
ease, and perhaps by deaths-it is impossible
not to feel that the system, as it is now gen.
orally practiced. should be abandoned
1t is, of course, impractcable to change at
once the house drainage of dwellings already
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
precautlOn which can be devised to render
more efficient, without great expense existing
constructions and arrangements; but where
ever proprietOrs are willing to undergo the
expense, and above all in new designs it
appears little less than inhuman for architects
and builders to adhere to system which
exposes all-especially women and children, who
are most confined in-doors-to the deadly and
insidiOus COMMUNICATIONS of the air of dwellings
which arise from the numerous fixtures which
have direct connections with sewers. 1t u.s. more
over, not always the sewer gases that do the
most harm, but the pOsons which are gen.
Grated in the plumbing pipes and house drains
themselves, and which arise from the very use
OF the convenences in the first instance. There
is remedy SO simple, especially I'm all new de-
signs. that it is almost Uncomfortable that it has
not already become universal, viz, to confne
the closets, bathrooms, lavatores, and all other
so-called conyeniences within an annex, or
within impervous walls at the rear of dwellings,
reaching from the cellar to the roof
Such inclOsed space may be warmed and
ventilated more thoroughly and 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 re-
duced.
This system, has frequently been suggested
during the last few years. and it's great advan-
tages were forcibly presented recently by DR..
Hamilton, of this city.