Year: 1879




The addresses delivered by Messrs Bayles. editor
of tho Iron Age. and Wingate editor of the Plumber
and Sanitary Engineer, at Trenor's Hail. under the
auspices Of the Journeymen Plumbers Benevolent
Protective Association listened to by large
and very appreciative audience. From the fact
that the association above named numbers among
its members only journeymen plumbers. it was evil
dent that the affair purely an honest demonstra
ton intended to enlighten the citizens of New York
to the terrible dangers that threaten Of the
vicious practice of house building speculators who
sacrifice every sanitary principle in order to increase
their profits. On being introduced by the chair
man Mr.. Bayles proceeded as follows "A long and
somewhat varied experience in what may be called
the missionary work of sanitary reform has taught
me many things. among others that it is of the
most difficult things in the world to create
popular interest in anything which pertains to the
to these subjects began systematic study Of what
may be called the mechanics of hygiene was
startled to find how general the ignorance of
health laws and of the precautions which the expert
of centuries has shown to be necessary for pro-
lection against large class OF maadies known
zymotic or filth Diseases The speaker then Illus
trated the man who rcclamable from the bonds
OF sceptcism to the dangers of bad plumbing and
insufficient ventilation because OF his disbelief
in all things sanitary, and the who. by passive
acceptance of the obvious truths OF what people
have learned TO call sanitary science, coupled with





general is only reused to ardy but vigorous action
to defend himself when he finds his constitution
shattered or when some dearone has succumbed to
the destroyer. sour ancestors century or more
ago." continued the speaker. ''had superstition
which had come down from earlier times,
that every cesspool had within ii resi-
dent evil spirit Like many another superstition
which people forget when they grow wiser the idea
rested upon truth whicn is every day becoming
more evident to intelligent people OF all classes The
evil spirit of the and cesspool Is that nameess
something which call organic vapor Analysis
cannot determine its composition nor can the micro
scope find its poisonous fangs. He then stated
that there means OF finding out any thing that
would account for its subtle power OF mischief 1t
Is known that in sewer gas, beyond the range of
chemical test microscopic investigation. there
innumerablc intangible germs which the seeds
OF disease and which bear within themselves the
power and potency death. There il much use in
trying 10 hold this invisible enemy In suppression
as trying 10 chain ghos. 1.-THE only chance o. con-
qtcring il Is to let it loose to the pure air. when 1t
will be quickly destroyed or rendered harmless 10y
the oxidation OF the organic cells, which show such
malignant activity when mingled with the confined
air OF living and sleeping apartments. "Ihe poorest
kind OF economy. said the speaker. "is that of put,
ting bad plumbing work into house aud then having


TO pay large interest in the shape OF doctors and
dertakers' bills" Mr.. Bayes gave detailed account
of am examination he made in tho house of a friend.
1t was flrAt claAs brown stone house up town. well
built but having esecrabe drain pipe that was not
even well jointed and which the OF great
deal OF sickness. Taking up some statistics no
showed that the percentage OF deaths from zymotic


diseases was very great in this city and that the
nual number OF malignant fevers In Great Britain
was immense ON account OF the imperfect sanitary
system and concluded with eulogy of the educated
plumber ''who," he said '.should have a knowledge
every kind of trade and bo conversant with sani
tary laws"


MIR. Baylcs was followed by General wingatc. who.
although he went over almost the same ground al
the previous speaker, had BY him many unique
specimens OF house fixtures that acted upon by
the acids and gases generated by the decomposition
of vegetable and animal matter His remarks
by the board of Health In its treatment Of detective
sewerage