Q. The excessively cold weather of this winter is giving the usual trouble in regard to the freezing of pipes from boilers to water-backs. Lately in Chicago the explosion of a water-back was attended with loss of life.

I have had to disconnect my boiler and stop its use altogether, owing to the impossibility of preventing the freezing of the connecting pipes.

On two occasions, recently, the pipes were found frozen, and only by the personal precaution of thawing out the pipes previous to lighting the fire was an explosion avoided. I write this to ask you if it is not possible to devise some contrivance, such as a plug of fusible metal, or a cock to open at a high pressure, which, placed in the water-back, would obviate the danger of explosions when the connecting pipes are frozen, thus putting our cooking-stoves and their hot-water attachments within the intellectual range and ordinary care of our usual hired help.

A. We know of no contrivance that can be depended on in emergencies such as you suggest. The only plan is to keep up a good fire and not let the pipes freeze. If by accident the fire goes out, follow the directions contained in an article on page 286, issue of the Sanitary Engineer of March 2, 1882.