New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-04
HOUSEHOLD PLUMBING
NO. w.
Great Care Should Be Exercised in the Choice
and Maintenance of the Bathroom Fixtures.
BY Or. Jacolyn Van Vliet Manning.

water fixture than the plug and unelean-
able overflow pipe 1t Is, however, an
awkward fixture unless recessed In the
head Of the bathtub.
The enamelled iron tub should be re-
enamelled once a year, using care to not
allow the enamel 70 get on the surface
Of the overflow. In case wooden rail-
incloses the tub, the rail should be washed
clean with soap and water daily. Every
housewife Is familiar with methods for
keeping the surface Of the tub clean and
shining. Kerosene Is a valuable aid in
the removal of greasy deposits
For the comfort OF the bather and the
integrity OF the pipes the bathroom OF
the farmhouse should be placed directly
over the warm Kitchen. BY this arrange
ment a single waste and vent pipe line
will answer for the bathroom fixtures and
the kitchen sink
The Closet.
The closet is the most important bath
room fixture It is the custodian OF the
most dangerous household waste and.
when sanitary, contributes most directly
to the wellbelng Of the household. In
the modern type of water closet all mech
anIsm Is freely exposed, the excreta Is re-
ceived directly into a sufficient amount or
water there is a generous flush OF three
or more gallons Of water, and large and
free water way into the soil pipe. The
usual closet seat is unsanitary TO an eN-
treme degree. II Is OF wood, and therefore
absorbent. The oval form necessitates
dangerous contact. Rigid daily dislnfec-
ton does not insure personal safety from
this type Of closet seat This Is well UNI
derstood In a country We are apt TO
decry as suffering from retarded develop
ment, and in Spain every hosiery sup
plies adjustable paper closet seat covers,
TO be used once and destroyed.
An American woman invented a sani-
tary closet seat which Is now installed In
many public utilities, etc. On this seat
three inches of surface Is cut entirely
away at the 'front.' and the. approximate
ing free ends are rounded. The seat has
been manufactured in porcelain continu-
Gus with the body of the closet, and has
been found to be satisfactory. It would
seem that an unbreakable aluminium seat
and cover could be provided as a substi-
tute for wood.
Caro- Of the Closet.
When the entire surface of the bowl ia
thoroughly doucned and the contents Of
the trap speedily and entirely changed at
every flushing, il Is sufficient to scour the
surfaces once daily with stout whisk-
broom. The keeping in sanitary condition
Of the old fashioned pan, valve and plum
ger type of closet IL another story. II
should be replaced by a modern closet.
Obstruction in the closet sometimes comes
from the most extraordinary sources. 1
have on several occasions observed that
the contents of the vacuum cleaner were
thrown en- masse into the closet bowl by
INSCRIPTIONS men servants. This mex
cusable act seriously embarrasses the
siphon jet, trap and water seal, and the
dissolved dirt will be thrown back
into the contalner at every attempt TO
flush the closet for some hours. It is i'm
possible to foresee and prevent such un-
toward occurrences, but their repetition
can be prevented.
A thorough scrubbing and flushing
which leaves clean water in the water
trap once daily is better than -eliances
on any Of the many liquid deodorants and
disinfectants.
The floor Joint OF the closet is of ex-
IRENE Importance. II constructed of &C.
ment and rubber II may dislntegrate
giving rise TO filthy leakage
Go be continued)