. A treatise on hygiene and public health . ice of Mr. Jennings, whoclaims for it this advantage, that it will preventthe passage of moisture. In addition to these measures to prevent damp-ness it will often be necessary to drain the site of abuilding. Deep drainage not only removes the badeffects of dampness, but it is also of advantage byaerating the soil so as to enable it to perform itsfunctions of oxidizing the injurious products of de-composition. By the free circulation of air in thesoil the work of natural purification is aids the process by removing the waterfrom the
. A treatise on hygiene and public health . ice of Mr. Jennings, whoclaims for it this advantage, that it will preventthe passage of moisture. In addition to these measures to prevent damp-ness it will often be necessary to drain the site of abuilding. Deep drainage not only removes the badeffects of dampness, but it is also of advantage byaerating the soil so as to enable it to perform itsfunctions of oxidizing the injurious products of de-composition. By the free circulation of air in thesoil the work of natural purification is aids the process by removing the waterfrom the pores of the soil, and by facilitating theentrance of air which is required for oxidation. Clay soils possess the property of retaining p,^,. walls andmoisture, which it is difficult to overcome, even by Jennings patent bondingwell-devised plans of drainage. The flat, sandy ^ ^soils, that in some places skirt the borders of the sea, are always moist ata little distance below the surface, on account of the nature of the locality,. 416 SOIL AND WATEIl. and for the same reason underground drainage is impracticable. Suciisoils—in fact, all damp soils which cannot be properly drained—should, asa rule, be avoided altogether; but when they are built upon, the precau-tion should always be observed to elevate the dwelling sufficiently abovethe surface of the ground to permit a free circulation of air. The means of preventing the entrance of impurities into the soil arepointed out in another place. Drainage of the Soil. The drainage of the subsoil—that is, the lowering of the water-level toa proper depth beneath the surface, and the removal of all excess of mois-ture—may be considered with respect to individual houses, to the sites oftowns and cities, and in relation to lands, marshes, and malarious districts. Whatever responsibility may devolve upon the local or state authori-ties in a matter of such vital importance to the public health, and how-ever excellent may be
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjecthygiene, bookyear1879
