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Soil Pipes.—I have bestowed a considerable amount of time
and attention on the subject of iron soil and ventilating pipes
inside bouses. I have objected very strongly to them and done
my best to get them placed outside. I do not mean to say that no
kind of iron pipes should be placed inside houses, as wrought iron
with proper leaded joints or with flanges properly constructed
and put together are very good, as they are usually coated inside
with Angus Smith cement, and not attacked by sewer gas.
Ordinary cast-iron pipes, which are very frequently put in an angle
in the house and covered with mortar, cannot be examined without
pulling the interior wall to pieces, and even if put in a wooden box
are necessarily defaced by an examination. We have met with
several instances of defective iron soil pipes in houses where
diphtheria occurred. In one, the smells were noticed at the top of
the house where there was a water-closet, and, on examining the
connection of the trap with the pipe, a small hole and defective
joint were found. In another case, sewage dripped into a pantry,
tainting the food, which, on examination, came from a cracked and
shrunken joint in an iron pipe. In objecting to iron pipes inside
houses, I carry my objection to pipes of any kind of material, even
although they may not be ordinarily subject to erosion, as we have
specimens of lead corroded in several parts by sewer gas. There is
something in some specimens of lead which render them even unfit
for being soil pipes inside houses. These remarks apply equally
to ventilating pipes, which are, usually, continuations of soil pipes.
Leaden soil pipes are also subject to be attacked by rats, several
examples of which I have seen.
Sanitary Work.—The inspection of workshops and factories
has required a much larger amount of time and trouble than heretofore,
and will increase year by year, as the tendency of legislation
has been to throw more work on the sanitary staff of the Local
Boards than ever. I, with Mr. Sortwell, visited a considerable
number, and found all in a defective sanitary state. They were
mostly dirty, overcrowded, ill-ventilated, and badly provided with
water closet accommodation. Mr. Sortwell had a great deal of