This Treatise on Plumbing Practice contains the subject-matter of a series of papers contributed to The Engineering & Building Record, New York, in 1883-84-85-86-87. The papers are now re-arranged, and, to some extent, re-written and added to, with a view to presenting them in a more complete form. That plumbers shall command respect, and their advice be taken with implicit confidence, is most earnestly to be desired. To attain this end, the head, as well as the hand, must be trained. Workshop practice is of the utmost importance, but if the workman has no mental training he is only one degree removed from a piece of machinery. A man crammed full of technical knowledge but lacking the ability to execute any desired work may be classed with the non-producers; but the plumber who has the skill to execute, and the knowledge to plan or design, must command both the respect and confidence of his patrons.

In the hope that this work may in a measure supply a want to some who have either practical or technical training, but lack the combination, it is offered to the author's fellow-workers.

London, 1888.