Q. I was lately called to examine a house, the occupants of which complained of bad smells, and in which I found one of the most expensive of the modern closets set, as in the accompanying sketch. The only ventilation to the soil-pipe was the 1 1/4-inch pipe D, which was branched out of the trap A, as shown. At B the waste-pipe from the basins was simply let into a hole cut in the iron pipe E, and an attempt was made to solder a joint at that point. You will also notice that the pipe C, which should extend independently out of doors, is branched into the apology for a continuation of the soil-pipe. Is it not high time that some one should have authority to stop men who commit such folly from working at the plumbing business?

A. We understand that the man responsible for this work is now dead, so as there is no danger that he will ever commit any more similar blunders, we may briefly point out the most glaring defects in this piece of botching for the information of such of our readers who do not fully comprehend the sketch, (1) The soil-pipe should be carried through the roof, the pipe D being of little benefit. (2) The pipe C, intended as a vent for the space between the water in the trap A and that in the bowl, should be extended out of doors, unless a convenient hot-flue could be used for that purpose. When it is connected to the continuation of the waste-pipe, the benefits of the trap A are neutralized, and the drain-air is conveyed to the pot of the water-closet, and could gain an entrance to the house in the event of the water being out of the bowl. If the soil-pipe had been continued up through the house the two basins, which seem to have been located quite close to the water-closet, could have been drained into that pipe. Each of the traps should be ventilated, likewise the trap A under the water-closet.

The defects pointed out above might be attributed to gross ignorance, but the making of a connection of lead waste-pipe with iron soil-pipe in the manner described by our correspondent looks like reckless rascality. It is probably safe to say, what every plumber knows, that such a connection should have been into a Y-branch, with a brass or copper ferrule calked into it, on which the lead pipe should be properly soldered.

Figure 24.