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sewer, so that the lamp-post is in direct communication with
the sewer and forms an upshaft The lamp is made of copper, and
has a gas jet playing upon the under-surface of a chamber, which
chamber, styled by Mr. Gibbon " the hot air furnace," has tubes
running through it into a dome shaped compartment, in the top of
which is the outlet for the sewer air. At the point where the lamp is
fixed upon the post, Mr. Gibbon was advised to have two layers of
fine wire gauze about an inch and a half apart to prevent the flame
extending to the sewer, in the event of the sewer air containing any
inflammable gas. The gas jet playing upon the under surface of the
" hot air furnace," the whole of the copper portion of the lamp
becomes heated by conduction. A thermometer placed in the
upper chamber registers 360° F. The air in the two chambers,
becoming rarefied, escapes through the outlet at the top of the lamp
and is replaced by air from the sewer. In the lamp under trial,
glass-windows and a door have been made in the shaft, whereby an
anemometer can be inserted, in order that the number of cubic feet
of air passing from the sewer may be calculated, and the door also
enables samples of the sewer air to be obtained before it passes
through the lamp. Provision is made to collect, for testing purposes,
the sewer air after it has passed through the lamp.
It will be most interesting to learn the result of the bacteriological
examinations of the air, and to hear the report of your Surveyor,
Mr. Oxtoby. Should this report be favourable, there will be no
doubt that the universal adoption of such an invention for ventilating
the sewers and killing the microbes, will be a great advance in
sanitation, and with " King's patent gully," the most efficient
apparatus I know of, for trapping gullies—also an invention of a
Poplar parishioner—honour will be due to the Poplar district for
furthering the interests of sanitary science.
INFLUENZA.
Six deaths occurred in Poplar from influenza, and nine deaths from
the same complaint happened in Bromley.