TRAPS

are devices to prevent the escape of sewer gas | as consumption, and was named by Hippo crates phthisis, from the drain into the house. Many of the older traps | a term that means literally wasting. The other organs had the drawback that they allowed filth to accumulate in | most liable to attack are (1) the lymphatic glands of the them. Such traps as the Bell Trap have been discarded | neck, (2) the intestines, (3) the joints, (4) the bones, (5) the on this account. A U or S shaped trap is the one now | lining membrane of the brain, (6) the genito-urinary organs. chiefly used. By having the drain pipe of this shape, | It is thus seen that the same germ by attacking different whenever the drain is flushed some water is retained in the | parts of the body may produce very different symptoms. bent part or trap, which then prevents the pa age of gas When (1) the lymphatic glands are the seat of disease, through this portion of the pipe. Such a trap is liable to | lumps appear in chains up the sides of the neck—a concert a in drawbacks:— dition formerly termed scrofula. These lumps are enlarged 1, When two closets one above the other discharge | glands. They should not be painted with iodine, but cod in to the same soil pipe, flushing the lower one may suck | |ivor oil and fresh air, preferably Margate air, should be re vee te cor ea the he trons oe is oe tried for some months, and if they do not disappear aay, in cuemtetication™ with the outside “ais 1 by pales & should be removed by the ei. es whilst they are still hard. small ventilating pipe known as the anti-siphonage pipe. If neglected they will break down into cold absce es and 2. If the sewers are not well ventilated, sewer gas will | burst, leaving discharging wounds that heal very slowly. collect in them until it is under sufficient pre ure, when When (2) the intestines are attacked, consumption of it will force the water out of the trap and escape into the | ¢he bowels results, though this term embraces many other house. forms of infantile diarrhea and wasting. In these cases ——— pia pee sie ae — water: if the germ has been swallowed. In infancy the germ may 4. Every trap introduced into a foieaee system | be introduced by the habit of sucking the fingers, which impedes the flow of the sewage. have often previously picked up dust from the floor, more Traps should be placed immediately under the pan of the | especially in houses inhabited by a sufferer from con sump water-closet, and at the pein of entrance of the soil pipe | tion; but the germ is more often introduced in the milk, as into the main drain. There should be no trap between | a large number of English cows are tukerculous. The these two points. Traps should also be placed immediately | Intter risk may be avoided by stcrilising the milk (see Milk). beneath the grating of all sinks, basins and baths, in spito | Consumption of the bowels is a common complication of of the fact that these pipes dischargo over a gully without hthisis, owing to the phlegm being swallowed instead of any direct connection with tho soil ipe. By this means baie expectorated into a suitable reociver as it should be. bad odours due to the accumulation of filth within the pipes | It has been proved that the stomach has no power to kill is excluded, and any sewer gas from the gully, which may | living tubercle bacilli which reach it. be sucked into the waste pipe by reason of the warmth of the When (3) the joints are attacked, usually the hip or house, is excluded also. kneo, wrist or ankle suffer. Hip disease or White Swelling [s. 418]