“Now, if the water that fills these traps and stops the open mouths of the drains were always clean, there would be no further trouble from this source.  Unfortunately it is not; and although constant watchfulness might keep it so, the safety that only comes from eternal vigilance is an uncomfortable sort of safety—­if we have too much of it life becomes a burden.  This particular ill might be remedied by some contrivance whereby the upper ends of the waste-pipes should be effectually corked—­not simply covered, but corked as tightly as a bottle of beer—­at all times except when in actual use.  This would doubtless be more troublesome, but indolence is at the bottom of most of our woes:  our labor-saving contrivances bring upon us our worst calamities.  Even this thorough closing of the outlet of washbasins and bath-tubs, as they are usually made, would be of little avail, for they are furnished with an ‘overflow’ (Fig. 4), through which exhalations from the trap would rise, however tightly the outlet might be sealed.  It is also customary and doubtless wise, considering our habit of doing things so imperfectly the first time that we have no confidence in their stability, to place large basins of sheet-lead under all plumbing articles, lest from some cause they should ‘spring a leak’ and damage the floors or ceilings below them.  One strong safeguard being better than two weak ones, I would dispense with the ‘overflow’ and arrange so that when anything ran over accidentally the lead basin or ‘safe’ should catch the water and carry it through an ample waste-pipe of its own to some inoffensive outlet.  This would perhaps involve setting the plumbing articles in the most simple and open fashion—­which ought always to be done.  ‘Cabinets,’ cupboards, casings and wood finish, no matter how full of conveniences, or how elegantly made, are worse than useless in connection with plumbing fixtures, which, for all reasons, should stand forth in absolute nakedness.  They must be so strongly and simply made that no concealment will be necessary.

“One more danger closes the list, so far as the system is concerned.  Even if the water in the traps is clean and inoffensive it will evaporate quickly in warm weather, and then the prison door is open again.  This adds another vigil which we can never lay aside if we must have plumbing and water traps.  The burden may be somewhat lightened—­since we are prone to forgetfulness as stones to fall downward—­by using traps made of glass and leaving them in plain sight.

[Illustration:  Fig. 5.]

“I conclusion, I wish to remind you that the lower end of the main drain must be protected from the iniquity of the sewer or cesspool to which it runs by another trap, or dam, just below the open pipe that admits fresh air from outside the house (Fig. 5), and also, as I have before remarked, that the system is wrong.  The rising tide of civilization will some time wash it all away.”