The successful application of charcoal air-filters to the ventilation and disinfection of sewers : a letter to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, William Cubitt, M.P. / by John Stenhouse.

  • Stenhouse, John, 1809-1880.
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The successful application of charcoal air-filters to the ventilation and disinfection of sewers : a letter to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, William Cubitt, M.P. / by John Stenhouse. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    kIiouIcI penetrate to the depth of two or three inches, so as, in fact, to be enclosed by a good body of charcoal. Under such an arrangement as this, no foul gases can penetrate into the closet, but will be retained and destroyed by the charcoal, into wliich they naturally flow, as in this direction scarcely any resistance is offered to their passage; whereas, in almost all water-closets as hitherto constructed, every time that the handle is di-awn up, the water which descends necessarily forces a quantity of foul air into the closet, and this foul air not unfre- quently passes from the closet into the other apart- ments of the house. From the preceding statements it is plain, that the oxygen contained in the air of the atmosphere is by far the cheapest and most effective deodorizing and disinfecting agent with which we are acquainted, and that the usefulness of the charcoal air-filter consists in its affording a safe and advantageous means of applying atmospherical aii to disinfecting purposes. I think it but justice to myself to state that I liave no pecuniary interest in the charcoal air-filter. Though strongly urged to do so, I refrained from securing it by patent, on the ground that inventions for the prevention of disease and death ought to be sold at the lowest possible price ; and should not, therefore, be encumbered with the expense and restrictions attendant upon patent rights. I trust the importance of this subject will be my excuse for intruding on your Lordship's notice ; and