Transcriber’s Notes Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations in hyphenation have been standardised but all other spelling and punctuation remains unchanged. Italics are represented thus _italic_, bold thus =bold=. There are many apparent subsections within the text variously indicated by bold, italic and capital text. There is some, inconsistent, correspondence between these and the sup-topics in the Contents. Because of this no attempt has been made to establish a hierarchy of these headings and they remain as printed in the original. Equally, paragraph numbering is not always consistent but remains unchanged. HAND-BOOK OF SANITARY INFORMATION FOR HOUSEHOLDERS, CONTAINING FACTS AND SUGGESTIONS ABOUT VENTILATION, DRAINAGE, CARE OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASES, DISINFECTION, FOOD, AND WATER. WITH APPENDICES ON DISINFECTANTS AND PLUMBERS’ MATERIALS. BY ROGER S. TRACY, M. D., SANITARY INSPECTOR OF THE NEW YORK CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. NEW YORK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 1, 3, AND 5 BOND STREET. 1884. COPYRIGHT BY ROGER S. TRACY, M. D. 1884. PREFACE. The preparation of this hand-book was suggested by persistent questioning about the matters it contains. Its purpose is to furnish householders with information which has been so scattered, or buried so deep in technical discussions, that it has not been easy for them to find it for themselves. It is, of course, mainly a compilation, and the only difficulties met with have been those incident to the arrangement and condensation of a large mass of material. I have intended to give credit, where credit seemed to be due, for everything borrowed, and, if I have failed to do so in any case, it is not my fault, but my misfortune. R. S. T. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I.—AIR 7-21 Normal Air.—Contamination of the Air.—Test for Carbonic Acid in Air.—Diseases caused by Foul Air.—Composition of Sewer-Air.—Ground Air.—Ventilation.—Smoky Chimneys. II.—DRAINAGE 21-66