Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-10-05
Sanitary Advice.

i correspondent of the New York
Evening Post gives the following good
advice, which should be needed by all:
To THE EDITOR: Your paper, in both
its editorial and correspondence COL
umns, has been very helpful indeed in
lnstructing the people during the recent
interest on the subject of cholera, out
there is one subject neglected SO far
that it seems to me could be "ppro-
priately discussed in view Of the present
state Of the public mind, even in the
daily press, and that is, the care and
condition of the water closets of the
city. | have had occasion to observe a
good many of these closets, and it seems
as ifthe conception of the people in re-
gard to them was very inadequate, and
although it may not have an immediate
relation to the cholera. it is, neverthe-
less, time when the importance Of
such subjects can be emphasized, and
when the people are ready to listen to
instruction.
l should say that not one person in
fifty has any idea what the cover of a
water-closet is for. One can almost
count on the fingers Of his two hands
the number of times in year that he
will find the cover of closet closed; in
fact, | know number ofinstances where
hooks are provided for the express pur-
pose Ofkeeping the covers open when
out of use. 1t would seem almost need
less to say that the covers of closets
should always be closed when not in
use.
Then the purpose of the water itself
seems to be little understood, most per-
sons seeming to think its sole use is to
wash out the closets or the seWer-plpes
underneath. But it has two other i'm
portant uses, one being that ola seal for
the trap, and another being that of the
actual reception Of any filth or refuse
disposed of in the closet. Anything
which soils the porcelain of a water
closet above the water line should be
Immediately scrubbed off. The closet
is only in condition 10 use when there
is a suticIentsupply Of water to receive
whateveri is thrown in SO that the refuse
and filth can never come IN contact with
any part of the solid material of the
closet whatever.
There are many closets in the city so
constructed that the flow Of water, COM
ing from tank at some height, is delayed
somewhat, /. e., it does not Immediately
enter the hopper after the handle is
pulled. The design In such cases is, of
course, to supply an adequate quantity
of water after the trap and valve are
again closed. Such closets | often find
entirely empty, the handle having been
pulled and Immediately replaced, with
out allowing the time necessary to start
the flow before valve and pan are again
closed. A closet thus treated is lett IN
a dangerous condition, the trap not be-
ing properly sealed and there being no
proper receptacle for the next use Of
the closet.
Then the pans in some closets are
hung so loosely that if the handle is
merely pulled released, and left, the in
ertia of the water is sufficient
if the handle had been held in
a closed position until the water
had ceased to flow, the trap would have
been fairly we'll sealed. Such closets
are out of condition and should be re-
ferred to the plumber for repairs.
There are a large number of closets
also-and these are particularly popu-
lar IN servants quarters-in which
there is no pan, but the hopper is in
tended, when used, to be supplied with
a constantly flowing protecting coating
Of water. In many cases the flow is to
be produced by the weight of the per-
son sitting over the closet and when
such a closet is used as a receptacle for
refuse thrown into it, there is only the
dry porcelain to receive it. Such clos
cts | regard as of faulty construction.
and where they are in use, they should
be frequently scrubbed out besides be-
lug flushed with disinfectant solutions
The points that ought to be constant
ly impressed upon the people with re-
gard to closets are, that the pan should
not be left until it is seen that it's album
dainty sealed, SO that the water stands
at least four inches deep init; that only
water should receive anything that is
thrown into the hopper. no filth ever
being allowed to touch the porcelain;
and that the covers should always be
closed. If any Of these conditions can
not be secured or maintained, the closet
is in bad order and should be referred
to the plumber or to the Board Of
Health at once.