Contents

PART I

CHAPTER PAGE
I.Country Sources of Water Supply[19]
Relation of Water to Health—Collection of Rain Water—Cisterns—Springs—Various Kinds of Wells—Laws Regulating Supply.
II.Appliances for Distributing Water[39]
Pumping Machines—The Hydraulic Ram—Use of Windmills—Engines—Steam and Electric Pumps—Reservoirs and Tanks—Appliances for Country Houses.
III.Purifying Water by Copper Sulphate[52]
Clear Water Often Dangerous—Pollution Due to Plants—Copper Sulphate Method—Directions for the Copper Cure.
IV.Ridding Stagnant Water of Mosquitoes[70]
Malaria Due to Mosquitoes—Cause of Yellow Fever—Effect of a Mosquito Bite—Destruction of Larvæ—Best Preventive Measures—Use of Kerosene.

PART II

CHAPTER PAGE
I.How To Detect Food Adulteration[87]
Definition of Adulteration—Food Laws—Permissible Adulterants—How to Select Pure Food—Chemical Tests.
II.Mushroom Poisoning[112]
Symptoms and Treatment—Coffee and Atropine the Best Antidotes—How to Tell the Edible Kind—"Horse," "Fairy-ring," and Other Varieties—Poisonous Species.

PART III

CHAPTER PAGE
I.Soil and Sites[131]
Constituents of the Soil—Influence on Health—Improving Defective Soil—Street Paving and Tree Planting—Proper Construction of Houses—Subsoil Drainage.
II.Ventilation[146]
What is Meant by Ventilation—Quantity of Air Required—Natural Agents of Ventilation—Special Appliances.
III.Warming[160]
Various Methods—Materials of Combustion—Chimneys—Fireplaces and Grates—Stoves—Hot-air Warming—Hot-water Systems—Principles of Steam Heating.
IV.Disposal of Sewage[170]
Refuse and Garbage—Discharge into Waters—Cremation—Precipitation—Intermittent Filtration—Immediate Disposal, etc.
V.Sewers[182]
Definition—Materials Used in Construction—Levels of Trenches—Joints of Pipes—The Fall and Flow of the Contents—Connections—Tide Valves—Sewer Gas.
VI.Plumbing[189]
Purposes and Requisites—Materials Used—Joints and Connections—Construction of Traps—Siphonage and Back Pressure—The Vent-pipe System.
VII.Plumbing Pipes[206]
Construction of House Drains—Fall, Position, and Connection—Main Traps—Extension of Vertical Pipes—Fresh-air Inlets—Soil and Waste Pipes—Branch Pipes, etc.
VIII.Plumbing Fixtures[216]
Sinks—Washbasins—Washtubs—Bathtubs—Refrigerators, etc.—Safes and Wastes—Pan, Valve, and Hopper Closets—Flush Tanks—Yard Closets—Drains.
IX.Defects in Plumbing[231]
Poor Work—Improper Conditions—How to Test Traps, Joints, and Connections—Detect Sewer Gas—Water-pressure, Smoke, and Scent Tests—Special Appliances.
X.Infection and Disinfection[238]
Physical and Chemical Disinfectants—Use of Sulphur Dioxide—Formaldehyde—Hydrocyanic Acid—Chlorine—Carbolic Acid—Bichloride of Mercury—Formalin—Potassium Permanganate, etc.
XI.Cost of Conveyed Heating Systems[254]
Cost of Hot-air Systems—Cast-iron Hot-water Heater—Advantages and Disadvantages—Cost for a Ten-room House—Steam Heating—Cost of Equipment.

The Editor's Preface