Health.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2092, 15 July 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Health.

Household Sanitation.

In the present wonderful concentration of the doings of the entire world, published broadcast by the million both morning and evening, we are apt to get filled up with what concerns others and forget that which affects our homes and one of the greatest of

our blessings—sturdy health. I propose in the present discussion of this subject to touch only upon such common facts as may be understood by all—the question of sewage in our homes. First I wish to disprove the commonly accepted theory that the great generator of what is termed sewer gas and which in nearly every instance is not gas at all, but only sewer miasma, is in the street sewer mains. The conditions necessary to produce gas from decomposed matter—heat and stagnation—are wholly wanting in the street sewer, for in the ordinary mains of a city the temperature is not over ten degrees higher on an average than the atmosphere at the street level, and the average will fall below that where perforated covers are placed over the manholes of the sewere. The contents of the sewer are in rapid motion, even in the almost level lines of piping. It may be easily seen there is not opportunity for the generation of a sewer miasma, much less a gas in the city mains. I have been in some

of the city mains, both near the point of outflow and in the higher levels of thelcity, and did not experience any very perceptible odor or note any amount of accumulated filth on the sides of the pipe, but was agreeably surprised at the clean condition of the sewer. The question may be asked, where, then, is the trouble, for a gas or vile miasma is generated in the sewer. I answer it is in the sewage system of the house, and nearest to the inlet points, that is precisely where the greatest trouble is. The water seal trap is a prolific source of the trouble, under the following conditions: Location between the beams of the floor of a well warmed house, the lower part of the body of the trap nearly touching the ceiling of the room, under which is the hottest part of the house, as may be easily proven by placing the hand on the ceiling; a sparing use of the fixture to which the tap is affixed, also a too unfrequent use of water sent in an ordinary water supply flow, but not sufficient to eject the contents, leaving only clean water in the trap. Under these conditions is the great generator of sewer miasma in the house. Any householder may prove this by permitting the usual contents expelled by the sewer to be set in as warm a place as the location of a closet trap, which is usually set between the floors of a house. Let it remain for a single night, and they will see what is the condition of an ordinary house closet trap, but a’d to this the stand or vcrticle pipe from the trap to the horizontal sewer, which is usually placed between wood partitions or recessed in the party wall of houses where

there is warmth on each side, and sometimes a heat duct close by, and there is anincreased

tendency to generate sewer miasma. This is readily absorbed by the water in the trap and accelerates the decomposition of the trap contents, helps to raise the temperature, thus rapidly increasing its virulent and deadly force. But it may be asked, does not the soil pass out of the trap in the ordinary use of the closet? No, it does not, especially when the trap is deep (that is, bolds a large quantity of water), and when children use it or careless people, or when only a running stream of water runs into the trap from the ordinary water supply pipe. Under these conditions the contents simply float on the surface, the water flowing in and simply passing over the wall of the trap but not carrying the contents with it.” “ What, then, is needed, and what can the householder do to prevent trouble from this very convenient modern convenience 7” asked the reporter. “ Use no water closet or other vessel where a less than sufficient quantity of water is provided to suddenly expel the trap contents. This should be done twice, at least, each day. The best closets in this line we are acquainted with are the new syphon closets, which hold a large quantity of water, with a straight outflow from the’ howl, and are without pans, clanks, levers, or float sections of any kind. A simple hopper, with a sudden flush of water is one of the best closets in use. A large majority of the expensive closets, fair and beautiful to look upon, but with large hidden cavities, or chambers, are the very worst, as a simple wetting or rinsing of the parts of a closet is—not enough. It needs scouring, and this cannot he done in the hidden chambers of such closets. Vigorous cleansing of all parts of a closet above the trap should he done regularly once a week at least, and a vigorous dash of water should be used to cleanse the trap if not thus provided for in its mechanism. This can be done from a pail. The simple running of water from a tank is not sufficient, and the vigorous flushing of the bowl, wasting the energy on that which is seen at the expense of the unseen trap is not enough. A pailful of water sent suddenly into a closet is worth more than all the flushing rims or spray and splash of water in the bowl, as the trouble does not lie in the seen parts of a closet but in the unseen. '

"The next very important matter is a thorough ventilation of the entire house piping. This can only be attained by pernvtting a good sized current o! fresh air, passing into the house main and providing as large an outlet above the roof; also air pipes to connect from the crown or upper part of traps out above the roof. I think the day is not far distant when water seal traps will be only in the memory of the past, for they are often, for the reasons I have noted, sources of evil rather than a preventative, i think the present system radically wrong, which is demanded by the Board of Health, to place traps on the house mains at or near the foundation line of the house, and especially so when perforated manhole covers are placed over the street sewer ; for then there would he a current of air passing through the entire length of the house piping. Pure air circulating in the sewers is the only preventative of sower miasma, because it keeps the temperature down and carries off all odors and vapors. I suppose, however, that the water and the seal trap under the fixture must remain for the present to prevent a free exit of sewer air from the pipes into the houses. In conclusion, I would suggest the use of as few traps as possible, and see that they are thoroughly flushed out at least twice a day.”