The engraving represents sectional views of the water-closet in the upper floor of a two-story house. A A is the level of the surface of the ground at the back court and of the kitchen floor. B is a 6-inch vitrified fire-clay siphon-trap, with an open iron grating, C, at its top, which grating maybe hinged. D is 4 inch soil-pipe from the water-closet; it is here shown coming down inside the wall; in other cases it may be carried down the outside. One advantage of such pipes being carried down the inside is that they are more likely to be protected from frost. F is a 1/2-inch or 2-inch lead pipe for ventilating the soil pipe. In this case, it is carried through the wall; in Other eases it may be carried up through the roof, G is the water-closet trunk, made of iron, it being a pan water-closet which is here shown. H is a 3/4-inch lead pipe, carried through the wall, and put in to ventilate the trunk, or that Space between the water in the pan, I, or basin, J, and the water in the siphon-trap, E. This 3/4 -inch ventilating pipe, H, is a very important one, and its use ought to be the rule in place of the exception, as is at present the case. It works as follows; When the handle of the water-closet is lifted, then any foul air lying in the trunk, in place of coming out into the apartment, is sent outside with a rush through this pipe, H; besides, being open to the air, it tends to prevent the accumulation of such foul air-in the trunk.

In order to keep the outer orifices of the pipes, F and H atways open, it is a good plan to solder on one or two pieces of copper wire across them. .J is the water closet basin, and the two small circles shown, underneath K K, are the India-rubber pipes. A:: inch zinc ventilating pipe may be carried up through the roof to ventilate the space or inclosure in which the water closet is situated. A gas bracket placed right below it will help, when lighted, to cause an upward current. The empty space at N is supposed to be the water-closet window. O is the surface of the floor of the upper flat. No gas can accumulate in the soil-pipe, for the pressure of the atmosphere on the surface of the open grating, C, tends to send a current of fresh air through the soil-pipe and out at the ventilating pipe, F.

Building Water-Closets