New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-03
MEDICAL AND SANITARY NOTES.

SANITARY HOUSE DRAINs.-In dealing with The
question as to the proper size of drainage pipes LOT
bouses Colonel George +. Warlng expresses oe-
clded preference for soil pipes of small bore, his own
dwelling being furnished with soil iron pipe from
above the roof 10 outside the building line, of three
inch diameter this being connected with the street or
main sewer by three-inch earthen sewer from the
building Ine there Is fall Of nearly half an inch 10
the foot the distance outside from the house TO TIC
main sewer being 10 feet; on this three inch me-
with It's two water Closets bath tub and kitchen shh
there have been during nine years use not more
than five or six distractions, mainly due TO 'ne
presence OF the running trap on the main drain. In
proving to his own satisfaction the ability of three
inch soil pipe and house drain TO carry Off the sewage
and waste matter of a private dwelling OF aVeraSo
size Colonel warng does not recommend the use Oh
three-inch pipe, but considers that fourlhcn SUI
and drain pipe is sufficient for all dwelling houses
fourInch being able to carry nearly so per cent moe
than a tIrec-nch pipe. In the same manner ne de-
clares in favor OF sX-inch pipe for street sewers,
though circumstances may exist where larger Ppo
should be used.
ABSORBENT PROPERTIES OF PEAT.-The fact Is
noted that pea-used for fuel to great extent anu
long known to be of important value as fertilizer
now finds SO many other applications that its prepara
ton has developed into quite an industry. feat
powder is serviceable, not only about stables but
elsewhere on account of its absorbent but somewhat
antseptic properties and low cost. few years ago.
a French surgeon introduced this powder. treated Win
antsepuc solutions and contained In a cloth bag as
dressing for wounds and this methodsaid to be very
old among the working people of some localities
was improved upon by another medical man OF Paris
who made soft and pllable wadding of peat. other
dressing have since taken the place OF these In hospitals
though the peat applications, In one form OF aho.hcr'
have into considerable in veterinary pictce
The valuable results yielded by the waddng have aso
l..i tn In tho
carpets, ETC., which esteemed on account OIL tcir
power of absorption.
ANTI MOISTURE wALLs-A practical method Of
insurng dry and consequently healthfu walls has been
introduced in London the method consisting in the use
of two washes or solutions for covering the surface OF
the wasone composed OF CASTLE soap and water ana
one Of alum and water The prOportors are quar-
ters OF pound of soap TO one gallon Of water ana ha
pound of alum to four gallons of water ooth SUD
stances being perfectly dissolved in the water previous
to applicaton-the walls also to be wholly clean and
dry and the temperature of the hot air not above fifty
degrees T. when the compositions are spreau' INC
first or soan wash is laid on when boiling hot with
fat brush care being taken to form froth to the brick
work. and this wash Is allowed 10 remain tWchty lonr
hours TO become dry and hard before the seconu
or alum wash Is used this being done in the same man
ner as the first. The temperature OF TINS WASH wien
applied be sixty or seventy degrees f. ana nl.
of the soap wash Is put onthese coats being applied
water the alum and soap thus combined form an In
soluble compound against the entrance OF water
SOME AUXILIARIES TO PURE HOUSE AIR.-1n
securing pure household atmosphere frepiaces are
an important desideratum. the main drawback with
them being the wellknown difficulty Of renewing the
fresh air the to replace that carried up by the
chimney in sufficient quantity, without causing some
drafts of air To obvate this inconvenience many
forms of chimney have been devised one OF the best OF
these being that which is constructed with false back
forming arChamber communicating with the outer
air. which enables 1t to deliver in the room about tie
same amount of fresh warmed air that escapes
by the chmney-a form which is more eccnom
ical than the common one as, with the same amount
3ran gas lets NAV be made important auxiilares in
this lne-tlat is, inserted in the bottom Of air shafts,
they establish active air currents which Withdraw the
ventilated air from living rooms 1t has In fact been
proven by actual experiment that one cubic foot OF
Illuminating gas can be so utilized as To cause the
discharge Of 600 cubic feet OF arand, as common
gasbuner will from three TO six feet OF gas
an hour it will extract 600 times that amount Of air
from a room each hour if suitable contrvances are
used, besides giving light.
LUNG DISEASE AMONG PORCELAIN WORKERS.
French physician has published Interesting paper
upon sclercsis of the lung induced in porcelain
workers. Sections of the lung generally colored.
according to the material that has been introduced but
here. he finds, the lung is blackish although the sub
stance introduced may be white owing to n6ammatory
conditions. Continuing he states that the symptoms
are analogous TO tuberculosis aud the diagnosis diff
cult the posteor aspect Of the lung most frequently
the seat Of scleross: sometimes the sounds OF pull
monary empty scma of plcurisy, may be heard,
though they differentiated from empty by the
absence Of ympanitc sounds the sputa character
istc there is no hectic fever or nocturnal sweating;
men are more frequently attacked than women. He
has found bac in the sputa and regards the disease
as tubcrcuous flbrOss. The scOus particles produce
alterations in the bronchi. npon which the tubercuar
matter is grated and continues to exert irrant
action which induces MrerplaSia Of the connective
ssue-ths TO a certain extent being salutary. lOd.des,
II stated constitute the best treatment In this form
OF scleross