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"is generated in the bodies of the sick, and communicated "from them to the well, or whether it is generated in sources exterior to the bodies of fever patients, yet all "authorities maintain that a peculiar poison is concerned "in its production.

"Those who hold to the doctrine of contagion admit "that, to give such contagion efficacy in the production of "wide spread results, filth or decaying organic matter is essential; while those who sustain the theory of non"contagion-the production of the poison from sources "without the bodies of the sick-contend that it has its “entire origin in such filth—in decomposing matter, espe"cially in fermenting sewage, and decaying human excreta.

"The injurious influence of decomposing azotised matter, "in either predisposing to or exciting severe disease, and "particularly typhoid fever, is universally admitted among "high medical authorities."

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sons.

* * * * *

The committee were of the opinion "that the disease "at Maplewood essentially originated in the state of the "privies and drainage of the place; the high temperature, "and other peculiar atmospheric conditions developing, in "the organic material thus exposed, a peculiar poison, "which accumulated in sufficient quantity to pervade "the whole premises, and operated a sufficient length of "time to produce disease in young and susceptible per* To prevent the poison of 'typhoid fever when taken into the system, from produc"ing its legitimate effects, except by natural agencies, "would require as positive a miracle as to restore a severed "head, or arrest the course of the heavenly bodies in their "spheres. * * * The lesson for all, for the future, is "too obvious to need further pointing out; and the com"mittee cannot doubt that they would hazard little in predicting that the wisdom obtained by this sad expe"rience, will be of value in the future management of this

"institution, and secure precautions which will forever "prevent the recurrence of such a calamity."

The results of all sanitary investigation indicate clearly the vital necessity for the complete and speedy removal from human habitations of all matters which, by their decomposition, may tend to the production of disease, and early measures should be taken by the authorities of all towns, especially those which are at all compactly built, to secure this removal. The means by which this is to be effected are to be found in such a combination of watersupply and sewerage, as will furnish a constant and copious supply of water to dissolve or hold in suspension the whole of the waste matters, and will provide a channel through which they may be carried away from the vicinity of residences. If means for the application of the sewage water to agricultural lands can be provided, a part if not the whole of the cost of the works will be thus returned.

Concerning the details of house drainage, it would be impossible to say much within the limits of this book. The construction of water-closets, soil-pipes, sinks, etc., are too will be understood to need a special description here.

The principal point, (aside from the use of pipes instead. of brick-sewers and brick house-drains,) is what is called in London the system of Back Drainage, where only principal main lines of sewers are laid under the streets, all collecting sewers passing through the centres of the blocks in the rear of the houses. Pipes for water supply are disposed in the same manner, as it is chiefly at the rears of houses that water is required, and that drainage is most necessary; and this adjustment saves the cost, the annoyance and the loss of fall, which accompany the use of pipes running under the entire length of each house. Much tearing up of pavements, expensive ditching in hard road-ways, and interference with traffic is avoided, while very much less ditching and piping is necessary, and repairs are made with very little annoyance to the occupants of

houses. The accompanying diagrams, (Figs. 48-49,) illus trate the difference between the old system of drainage with brick sewers under the streets, and brick drains under the houses, and pipe sewers under main streets and through the back yards of premises. A measurement of these two

Fig. 48.-OLD STYLE HOUSE DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE.

methods will show that the lengths of the drains in the new system, are to those of the old, as 1 to 24;-the fall of the house drains, (these having much less length,) would be 10 times more in the one case than in the other;-the main sewers would have twice the fall, their area would be only, and their cubic contents only.

Experience in England has shown that if the whole cost of water supply and pipe sewers is, with its interest, divided over a period of thirty years, so that at the end of that time it should all be repaid,—the annual charge would not be greater than the cost of keeping house-drains and cess

pools clean. The General Board of Health state that "the expense of cleansing the brick house-drains and cess-pools for four or five years, would pay the expense of properly constructed water-closets and pipe-drains, for the greater number of old premises."

One of the reports of this body, which has added more than any other organization to the world's knowledge on these subjects, closes with the following:

"Conclusions obtained as to house drainage, and the sewerage and cleansing of the sites of towns."

"That no population living amidst impurities, arising "from the putrid emanations from cess-pools, drains and sewers of deposit, can be healthy or free from the attacks "of devastating epidemics.

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"That as a primary condition of salubrity, no ordure

"and town refuse can be permitted to remain beneath or 66 near habitations.

"That by no means can remedial operations be so con"veniently, economically, inoffensively, and quickly effected as by the removal of all such refuse dissolved or sus"pended in water.

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"That it has been subsequently proved by the operation "of draining houses with tubular drains, in upwards of '19,000 cases, and by the trial of more than 200 miles of "pipe sewers, that the practice of constructing large brick or stone sewers for general town drainage, which detain "matters passing into them in suspension in water, which "accumulate deposit, and which are made large enough "for men to enter them, and remove the deposit by hand "labor, without reference to the area to be drained, has “been in ignorance, neglect or perversion of the above "recited principles.

"That while sewers so constructed are productive of "great injury to the public health, by the diffusion into "houses and streets of the noxious products of the decom"posing matters contained in them, they are wasteful from "the increased expense of their construction and repair, "and from the cost of ineffectual efforts to keep them free "from deposit.

"That the house-drains, made as they have heretofore been, of absorbent brick or stone, besides detaining sub"stances in suspension, accumulating foul deposit, and "being so permeable as to permit the escape of the liquid "and gaseous matters, are also false in principle and waste"ful in the expense of construction, cleansing and repair.

"That it results from the experience developed in these "inquiries, that improved tubular house-drains and sewers "of the proper sizes, inclinations, and material, detain and "accumulate no deposit, emit no offensive smells, and re'quire no additional supplies of water to keep them clear,