Health and Comfort in House-building Sewer-gas, and how to keep it out of Houses

Abstract

THE first of these works supplies a want long felt by that section of the public who are desirous of obtaining a good supply of fresh air in their houses, without being subjected to the cold draughts usually associated with almost every system of ventilation. The book is most carefully written, and is evidently the result of much thought, time, and intelligent labour. After reviewing very fairly the systems of ventilation which have been proved to be ineffectual for supplying fresh warm air to the whole of a house, although perhaps very appropriate for single rooms, we are told that the key-note of this new system consists in utilising the kitchen fire, which is almost constantly kept alight in summer and in winter. “Endeavour is made to prevent the air from entering the house at all except by the inlet provided in the lowest story of the house, with conditions available for the warming, cleaning, disinfecting, or otherwise improving the quality of the incoming fresh air, and regulating its quantity; the fresh air is then conducted into the central private hall, which is protected from smells, and all other means of pollution: it is from this private hall that the rooms draw their supply, even when the doors are shut. Having served its purpose in the rooms, the air is drawn off through the ceiling into the foul air chamber, and thence down and behind the kitchen fire, up the chimney-stack, and discharged high up in the open air, all possibility of back draught being prevented by the length and heat of the exhausting-syphon.” It is a work which can be highly recommended to the officer of public health, the architect, and the householder, as a guide to the true principles of healthy ventilation. In “Sewer Gas; a Handbook on House-drainage,” we have a very simple and original plan suggested for preventing noxious gases and exhalations from drains entering our houses. It is shown that these gases, being specifically lighter than atmospheric air, frequently ascend in pipes, and that they are also occasionally drawn in by the suction caused by the warmth of a house through accidental crevices in the drain pipes. It is proposed to remedy these evils by doing away with all traps except those connected with the pans of closets, and by placing a large trap in the pipe which connects the house drains with the sewer. A plan of this trap is given, showing that it is easily accessible, and can be cleaned at any time by even an inexperienced workman. The subject is one of even more importance than good ventilation. When we recollect that one of the most valued lives in Great Britain has been so recently imperilled from a mere defect in a system of drainage, we cannot too highly estimate the efforts of those who suggest, both by precept and experiment, the adoption of such measures as will ensure the safety of all sensible householders.

Health and Comfort in House-building.

By J. Drysdale J. W. Hayward. (London: E. and F. Spon, 1872.)

Sewer-gas, and how to keep it out of Houses.

By Osborne Reynolds. (London: Macmillan and Co., 1872.)