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House drainage and sanitary plumbing
398
Book Notices.
fJour. Frank. Inst.,
more defective in the census of 1880 than at any former period, the errors arising from haste, misdirection, and lack of competence of the persons employed. The errors are all on the side of deficiency, or omission, and range from thirty to fifty per cent. in most cases, especially for agricultural and industrial products. There is no danger that the public will get an exaggerated estimate of the productive capacity of Kansas, Nebraska, or Colorado from the figures here given as the most recent on these subjects. These figures, as for corn, wheat, cattle, shhep and wool, hogs and hog products, etc., are each fully twice as great for 1882 as are here ibr 1880. Mr. Porter should have given some indications of these recent facts, especially for the benefit of those who, in Europe, are likely to take the census of 1880 as authority until the current decade ends with 1890. In the ordinary measure of time 1882 is already more than half a decade in advance of 18798 0 - r e a l l y 1879 ibr these Western States. But on the whole, the value of this as a work of reference for the Western States is great, and it is one that has been needed for some time. Some errors are noticeable even in the hasty review now made, as, at page 199, where the mean temperature of Lansing is given at 49"1° and that of Detroit 45"5 ° ; neither can be correct. Also, "the distribution of the rainfall throughout the seasons is, f o r ' t h e upper peninsula, 19 inches fi)r the spring, 27 inches for the summer, 27"3 ibr the autumn, and 19"1 for the winter " - - w e quote exactly. This would be a total ralnfull off 92"4 inches for the year, and if the quantities were not stated in words we should think it a misprint of figures only. The annual quantity is 30 inches. We also notice that the ink used in printing o n t h e fine paper used for the book has not yet penetrated sufficiently to stay under the touch of the careless hand, a suggestion to readers as well as to the printers. L.B. H o u s e DRAISIAGE AND SA~'ITARY PLUMBISIG. By Win. Paul Gerhard, Civil and Sanitary Engineer. Newport, R. I. The figures and charts which give statistical information relative t(> the "ills that flesh is heir t o " are uninteresting to tt~e general public if they stand alone, unaccompanied by anything calculated to furnish a key to the intelligent and comprehensive understanding of the cold tabulated facts. This condition of things is most undesirable, inasnmch as it is of the utmost importance that the general public should
~ov., 1882.]
Proceedings, etc.
399'
not only recognize the value of such statistics, but should be able to take a lively interest in them, and to appreciate their full significance. Nothing could be better adapted to the attainment of this desideratum than the annual reports now published by the State Boards of Health that have been established in at least four of the United States --Massachusetts and Michigan took the lead in this matter, and New Jersey and Rhode Island have followed--and it is from the Fourth Annuul Report (being that for the current year) of the last-mentioned State that the work under consideration is a reprint. It is a lamentable fact that had such advice as is contained in this pamphlet been universally acted upon in the past, and continued to be acted upon now, much of the ill-health that exists among civilized peoples would not 1)e; several common and serious diseases might have been ahuost if not entirely eradicated, and many premature deaths would not have occurred. The evidence is overwhelming; but as this is not the place for its consideration, it must suffice to say that where sickness is not directly traceable to sanitary defects, the sequence of cause and effect may be established indirectly, and sometimes perhaps only inferentially, through the medium of heredity or contagion. It is gratifying to be able to state that there are signs that the time is rapidly approaching when there will be a competition among cities and towns in the reduction of their respective death-rates to a minimum, particularly with respect to those diseases which are most conclusively shown to be associated with bad drainage. The writer of the work before us claims that it is "the outgrowth of much study and experience." It has the merit of being eminently practical and amply illustrated, and comprehends more valuable information upon the subject it treats of than we recollect to have seen in a work of the same size. W.B.C.
Franklin
Institute.
HALL OF THE I~STITUTE, October 18, 1882. The meeting was called to order at the usual hour, with the Pres[ ~ dent, Wm. F. Tatham, in the chair. There were present 115 members and 6 visitors.
Book Notices.
fJour. Frank. Inst.,
more defective in the census of 1880 than at any former period, the errors arising from haste, misdirection, and lack of competence of the persons employed. The errors are all on the side of deficiency, or omission, and range from thirty to fifty per cent. in most cases, especially for agricultural and industrial products. There is no danger that the public will get an exaggerated estimate of the productive capacity of Kansas, Nebraska, or Colorado from the figures here given as the most recent on these subjects. These figures, as for corn, wheat, cattle, shhep and wool, hogs and hog products, etc., are each fully twice as great for 1882 as are here ibr 1880. Mr. Porter should have given some indications of these recent facts, especially for the benefit of those who, in Europe, are likely to take the census of 1880 as authority until the current decade ends with 1890. In the ordinary measure of time 1882 is already more than half a decade in advance of 18798 0 - r e a l l y 1879 ibr these Western States. But on the whole, the value of this as a work of reference for the Western States is great, and it is one that has been needed for some time. Some errors are noticeable even in the hasty review now made, as, at page 199, where the mean temperature of Lansing is given at 49"1° and that of Detroit 45"5 ° ; neither can be correct. Also, "the distribution of the rainfall throughout the seasons is, f o r ' t h e upper peninsula, 19 inches fi)r the spring, 27 inches for the summer, 27"3 ibr the autumn, and 19"1 for the winter " - - w e quote exactly. This would be a total ralnfull off 92"4 inches for the year, and if the quantities were not stated in words we should think it a misprint of figures only. The annual quantity is 30 inches. We also notice that the ink used in printing o n t h e fine paper used for the book has not yet penetrated sufficiently to stay under the touch of the careless hand, a suggestion to readers as well as to the printers. L.B. H o u s e DRAISIAGE AND SA~'ITARY PLUMBISIG. By Win. Paul Gerhard, Civil and Sanitary Engineer. Newport, R. I. The figures and charts which give statistical information relative t(> the "ills that flesh is heir t o " are uninteresting to tt~e general public if they stand alone, unaccompanied by anything calculated to furnish a key to the intelligent and comprehensive understanding of the cold tabulated facts. This condition of things is most undesirable, inasnmch as it is of the utmost importance that the general public should
~ov., 1882.]
Proceedings, etc.
399'
not only recognize the value of such statistics, but should be able to take a lively interest in them, and to appreciate their full significance. Nothing could be better adapted to the attainment of this desideratum than the annual reports now published by the State Boards of Health that have been established in at least four of the United States --Massachusetts and Michigan took the lead in this matter, and New Jersey and Rhode Island have followed--and it is from the Fourth Annuul Report (being that for the current year) of the last-mentioned State that the work under consideration is a reprint. It is a lamentable fact that had such advice as is contained in this pamphlet been universally acted upon in the past, and continued to be acted upon now, much of the ill-health that exists among civilized peoples would not 1)e; several common and serious diseases might have been ahuost if not entirely eradicated, and many premature deaths would not have occurred. The evidence is overwhelming; but as this is not the place for its consideration, it must suffice to say that where sickness is not directly traceable to sanitary defects, the sequence of cause and effect may be established indirectly, and sometimes perhaps only inferentially, through the medium of heredity or contagion. It is gratifying to be able to state that there are signs that the time is rapidly approaching when there will be a competition among cities and towns in the reduction of their respective death-rates to a minimum, particularly with respect to those diseases which are most conclusively shown to be associated with bad drainage. The writer of the work before us claims that it is "the outgrowth of much study and experience." It has the merit of being eminently practical and amply illustrated, and comprehends more valuable information upon the subject it treats of than we recollect to have seen in a work of the same size. W.B.C.
Franklin
Institute.
HALL OF THE I~STITUTE, October 18, 1882. The meeting was called to order at the usual hour, with the Pres[ ~ dent, Wm. F. Tatham, in the chair. There were present 115 members and 6 visitors.