drains. In a large percentage of houses examined within the last few years the drains have been found in a deplorable condition, being untrapped, defective as to joints, having broken pipes, and with soil and waste pipes from sinks, baths, and other fittings connected directly with the drain, and simply providing so many tubes for the conveyance of sewer gas into the house. Numerous other defects are continually being discovered which it would weary you to refer to in detail.

Fortunately this imperfect state of matters is gradually being remedied. The new system of registration of plumbers is being largely resorted to throughout the United Kingdom. A very successful branch of the organisation exists in Aberdeen, which will no doubt tend to prevent a repetition of former mistakes. The testing of drains and plumber work by smoke, which I had the privilege of introducing into this city, has also been the means of improving the character of the work considerably. I am of opinion, however, that, in addition to the registration of plumbers, it is highly desirable that a small section of the masons, all of whom are thought competent at present to lay the drains of houses, should be specially trained for this work, and be registered and certificated as in the case of plumbers.

I shall now proceed to deal in detail with the chief points in a system of house drainage :

TRAPS.

It is impossible to over-estimate the importance of having efficient traps in and around our houses, for if they do not fulfil their proper functions they are worse than useless, and facilitate the passage of noxious gases from the sewers and drains into the atmosphere and the dwelling.

I do not intend to speak of the merits and demerits of the numerous forms of traps now manufactured, but shall merely pass a few remarks on those traps generally employed for house drainage in Aberdeen.

"Bell" Trap.-The "Bell" Trap (Fig. 1) is the oldest and worst kind of trap. It is generally used for disconnecting waste pipes of sinks, baths, wash-hand basins and rain-water conductors, and in many cases it is fixed underneath the wash-tubs in wash-houses, and also in courts and areas, for the purpose of receiving the waste and surface water. It will be seen by reference to Fig. 1 that the

cover A and the bell (from which the trap receives its name) is cast all in one piece. The small pipe B, usually about 13 inches in diameter, according to the size of the trap, is carried up to a little above the lower edge or lip of the bell on the grating, thus forming the water seal. No flush of water, however copious, will effectually cleanse every part of the trap, because the pipe B obstructs the flow of the water, and the consequence is that any sediment or sand accumulates in the bottom of the trap and catch-pit, which in course of time gets completely choked up. It is quite a common occurrence to find the cover of this trap removed, probably for the purpose of allowing the water to flow more freely into the drain, and it is often left off for days. But, apart from this, the "bell" trap is not of the proper shape, and, having an inadequate water seal, the water evaporates in a very short time in warm weather.

Table of reference for Fig. 1:—

areas.

A-Cover of trap forming the water seal, which, when removed,
permits of the foul air readily entering the house.

B-Pipe in centre of trap which conveys the water to catch-pit.
CC-Walls of catch-pit.

D D-Accumulation of sediment and sand.

"Lip" Trap.-The "Lip" Trap (Fig. 2) is also used for disconnecting waste pipes and for receiving surface water in courts and Although this trap is much better than the "bell" trap, still it is not a good one. It is checked into a stone on the surface of the ground, and fixed over a shaft or catch-pit formed of brick, and in such a manner as to render it impossible for the water to keep the trap and shaft thoroughly clean. The cover A can be removed without in any way interfering with the water seal of the trap, a great advantage over the "bell" trap. The space between the lip and the bottom of the trap is so small that it is apt to choke. Consequently the trap is removed from its seat in order to be cleaned out, and very probably it is not again so tightly replaced.

Table of reference for Fig. 2 :

A-Cover of trap.

B-Lip forming water seal.

CC-Walls of catch-pipe.

D D-Accumulation of sediment and sand.

Another trap largely used for the disconnection of waste pipes, &c., is the Liverpool Trap (Fig. 3). This trap, like those already

mentioned, is fixed over a brick catch-pit. In the lower class of houses they are very often removed, and all kinds of refuse and slops are thrown into the catch-pit. The trap is then loosely replaced, and very likely without any attempt being made to refill it with water-thus foul odours can ascend freely into the house from the drain, and from the filth in the catch-pit, by the sides of the loosely fitting trap, or through the empty trap. These traps have usually from of an inch to 1 inch of water seal-which is totally inadequate to resist the pressure of foul air.

Table of reference for Fig. 3:

A-Liverpool Trap.

B-Sediment and sand.

CC-Walls of catch-pit.

“H” Trap.—The "H" Trap (Fig. 4) is only used for the disconnection of waste pipes from sinks, &c., and is not adapted for receiv ing surface water. The waste pipe is connected with the opening A, and discharges the waste water into the house side of the trap. The cover B is for the purpose of allowing the trap to be cleared out when choked, and in many cases these covers are merely laid on to the trap, with no jointing round the edges. There being a great space between the bottom and the outlet of the trap, it is liable to retain a considerable amount of sediment. The trap from which this drawing is taken was found at the foot of a stalk of waste pipe from sinks. Evidently the workmen were in ignorance as to what ought to have been done, for the main pipe was fixed into the opening A, and the waste pipe from the sink in the ground floor was fixed into the opening C on the sewer side of the trap. Thus the waste pipe served no better purpose than if it had been directly connected with the drain! Probably the workmen, having finished their labours, thought-" Well, we have got over the difficulty. The job is perfect. There will be no smell there now!"

"Sand" Trap.-The "Sand" Trap (Fig. 5) is used for the purpose of receiving surface water from courts and yards. This is not a good form of trap. There is too much water retained in it, which no ordinary flush of water from the surface of a court will effectually displace. The consequence is that all the sand and other refuse matter from the court is discharged into the trap and lodges there, while the water stagnates and gives off offensive odours in warm weather. This trap is also occasionally (although not generally)

used for the disconnection of waste pipes from sinks and roofs. The waste pipes are usually made so as to discharge on to the surface of the grating, so that grease and other refuse matter from the washing of cooking and other utensils accumulate on and around the grating, and in course of time decompose, and discharge offensive smells into the house. This is not the proper kind of trap for the disconnection of waste pipes from sinks, wash-hand basins, baths, or other such-like fittings, for the flush of water from them is insufficient to keep them wholesome. In the event of this trap being used for receiving surface water from courts, &c., it should be thoroughly cleaned out and the water changed at least twice a week, in order to prevent it from becoming a nuisance.

TRAPS FOR INSIDE OF HOUSES.

I now come to a very important branch of the subject—that of traps for fittings inside houses. There seems to have been a diversity of opinion as to whether or not fittings inside of houses should be trapped. I do not think I can bring this important matter home to you more forcibly than by stating the following facts:

In a building in the east end of the town where sinks were fitted up in each floor, a tenant made a complaint to the person in charge of the property that bad smells were emanating from the sink. Probably this person had examined the sink to his own satisfaction, but in order to pacify the tenant he instructed a plumber to make an examination and ascertain if there was any cause for complaint. Accordingly the plumber made an examination, when he found the sinks to be untrapped, there being only a lead bend taken from the bottom of the sink through the wall, and connected with the main waste pipe (this pipe conveying the waste water from a number of other sinks, being made so as to discharge on to the grating of a "sand" trap) [see Fig 5]. It was also found that the pipe was clogged up with offensive matter, owing to the tenants on the upper floors discharging the soil water into the sink. The plumber suggested that traps should be fixed underneath the sinks. This suggestion was unfavourably received, and he was instructed instead to get a long rod with a brush and to pull it up and down the waste pipe in order to clean it. Now it can easily be understood how the bad smells entered the house, for when the wind was blowing against the building the air ascended the pipe carrying with it