Public health / by E.A. Parkes ; revised by William Aitken ; to which is added a short paper containing hints to the medical officers of the Arctic expedition under Captain Nares, as to experiments on diet and body-temperature in the polar regions.

  • Parkes, Edmund A. (Edmund Alexander), 1819-1876.
Date:
1876
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Public health / by E.A. Parkes ; revised by William Aitken ; to which is added a short paper containing hints to the medical officers of the Arctic expedition under Captain Nares, as to experiments on diet and body-temperature in the polar regions. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    taken after it has been in contact with the pipes for some hours. Carried down by these pipes the water is either dehvered at intervals to house cisterns, or is supplied on the constant plan with- out house storage. In the former case the house cisterns should be well made of slate or concrete, should be able to be easily inspected and cleaned, and should have no communication by overflow pipes with any sewers ; the overflow pipe should always open in free air above a grating. The greatest care should be taken that the cistern water shall not be contaminated by absorption of foul air or by leakage, and the cistern should be well covered to prevent dust getting in. If the constant system is in force it should be truly constant, for if the water is cut off and the house pipes are then emptied foul air must be drawn into them. Even dirty water from a pipe dipping, for example, into a closet pan has been sucked in, and in this way excreta have not only passed into these house pipes, but have even got into the mains. In fact too great care cannot be taken in thoroughly guarding water pipes and cisterns in every way. Of the two plans the constant system is usually considered the best; but if in use, small cisterns for water-closets and kitchen boilers still require to be used, and, as already said, the supply should be truly constant.