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12
At that time, the water-closet pipe of each house was a mere
iron rain-water pipe, with loose joints. We could get no
personal evidence of the existence or source of the smell
complained of; so we were obliged to tell the complainant
that, before we could call on y to pull down the iron pipe
within his wall and substitute a leaden one, we must ask
him to do the same with his own. This he accordingly did
last autumn: and we also advised him to ventilate his
drawing-room, which he did not do. This spring he again
lodged a formal complaint of effluvia, which he believed to
proceed from the same cause as before, and, as the owner of
y refused to do anything, it was necessary to investigate the
case minutely, with a view to legal proceedings. For this
purpose one of the Medical Officers of Health, taking Mr.
Grant with him, went to the house by appointment, at
10 a.m., on Monday, the 9th April. Entering the drawingroom,
which had been purposely closed for thirty-six hours,
they were struck with its exceeding closeness, though this
did not seem to differ from that of any other unventilated
apartment. They were particularly impressed with the
abundance and perfection of the contrivances for keeping
out the air. Windows, doors, and the chimney of the adjoining
back drawing-room were so carefully padded that it
was difficult anywhere to detect a current of air that would
move the flame of a taper. On examining the wall at the
place where effluvia were complained of, two chinks were
detected in the skirting-board, with very slight currents of
air coming through them, quite inodorous. A fire was lighted,
but made no difference. Four evenings afterwards Dr. D.
went to the house, at 10 p.m., after the doors and windows of
the room had been kept closed all day, with a good fire, so
that the greatest possible suction power might be exerted, and
the skirting-board and some of the floor had been removed, so
that the wall might be examined more minutely. It had been