A. Heinsch's test is this: Fill a clean pint-bottle three-fourths full of the suspected water and dissolve in the water a half-teaspoonful of granulated white sugar; cork the bottle and place it in a warm place for from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. If the water then has odor or a cloudy or milky color, it should not be used without boiling or further testing. The permanganate test; the chlorine test; the ammonia or Wanklyn test; the Frankland or combustion test; the Kjeldahl test and the biological or Koch test, are used by chemists.

Q. How is the public water-supply to be examined?

A. As to the locality of its connecting-pipes; as to the condition of stand-pipe or reservoir; as to sources of foulness along the course from which the supply comes; as to the crib or place of entrance, and as to the condition of gathering-ground or streams and the surrounding soil.

Garbage Removal, Scavenging, &c.

Q. What is necessary as to garbage removal?

A. That every city should have a general system under careful regulation.

Q. What is the chief evil in cities as to individual premises?

A. That many things are kept upon them that should be promptly removed.

Q. Should the Board of Health ordinances require garbage to be collected free from ashes?

A. They should; and cases of mixture should be at once reported. Q. How often should garbage be removed?

A. Not less than every other day in summer and twice a week in winter.

2. Should garbage ever be disposed of within city limits?.

A. It should not except it be by burning in close furnaces.

Q. May refuse material be used to fill up low places within city limits?

A. Only if under the direction of an Inspector; there should be no animal matter and no decaying vegetable matter in it; it should not be in heaps, but should be spread to a depth of not over two feet in any one year.

Tenement and Other Houses.

Q. What do we mean by a tenement-house?
A. One containing over two families.

Q. Why do these need especial oversight?

A. Because of the number of inmates, the frequent lack of light and ventilation and the common use of yards, stairs, hallways, &c.

Q. How can an Inspector enforce cleanliness as to these?

A. By reporting them as nuisances and directing as to what changes should be made.

Q. Are rooms sufficiently aired by opening a window?

A. They are not; there should at times be flushing with air, so that walls, corners and every part shall be reached; there is also need of sunlight.

Q. What is the least amount of air space which should be allowed for each person?

A. The minimum of cubic space in a room which should be allowed for each person is as follows: In a school-room, 250 feet; in a dwellingroom occupied all day or all night, 300 feet; in a tenement-house, 400 feet; height of ceiling should be not over 10 feet, with not less than 12 square feet of floor space to each person; thus, a box ten feet high and five feet wide and long represents 250 feet of air; windows should reach as near to the ceiling as possible and the upper sash admit of lowering.

Q. Why does a room require so much air?

A. Because of the amount of cubic feet of air needed in breathing, the necessity of so introducing air as not to cause draught, and because experience shows this to be the least possible amount, and that even more is desirable.

Q. How is the necessity for this amount somewhat modified?

A. By the fact that air is constantly interchanged through cracks, crevices, walls, &c., but not enough to secure ventilation.

Q. What are the most important points to be considered in examining the ventilation of a room?

A. Ascertain whether the window space for light is sufficient, whether windows are made to open top and bottom; if a fireplace and chimney aid in the ventilation; height of room, its dryness or otherwise, and the mode of artificial lighting.

Q. Describe the construction necessary to prevent damp in buildings? A. The whole site, if wet, to be underdrained, then concreted, the walls to have a ventilated damp-proof course all around, and free circulation of air between the concrete flooring and the wooden flooring of room above. A damp-proof course is usually made by

one or more courses of slate or tile on the foundation, after it reaches the level of the ground.

2. Does illuminating gas injure the air of rooms ?

A. Yes, and it is often mistaken for sewer gas.

Q. How are gas-pipes and fittings to be tested?

A. Attach a pressure-gauge and pump air into the pipes; if the gauge stands the pipes are sound, if it falls, there is leakage.

School-Houses.

Q. In examining alms-houses, jails or other public buildings what is the proper method?

A. Use the following questions of one of the circulars* of the State Board, which are also valuable as a guide to examination of most buildings:

1. Building, how located as to elevation and drainage?

2. Size of house?

3. Is it brick or wood?

4. Has it a cellar or basement?

5. If so, state its condition-whether wet, damp, dirty, dark, unventilated, cemented or floored, &c.

6. Size of school-room? Give number, length, breadth and height, that the cubic space may be computed.

7. Is there an entry?

8. Is room wainscoted? Kind of wall?

9. Number of doors? Correct answers to 9 and 10 are necessary

to ascertain lighting surface.

10. How many windows?

11. Size of windows and glass?

12. Distance from ceiling?

13. Are the windows to the right or left, behind or in front of the scholars?

14. What is the size of the yard?

15. Is it fenced?

16. Does water ever stand in the yard or beneath the house?

17. Is it well heated, and how?

plied to stove or furnace?

Is there dust? Is water sup

*This circular, with space for answers and remarks, can be had in small book form by every school in the State, by applying to Secretary State Board of Health.

18. Do you register by thermometer? Is temperature even?

19. Is it well ventilated, and how? If by ventilating registers, state whether they are in ceiling overhead, or in flues at bottom or top of room, or both. Also, if there is any provision for allowing fresh air to enter the room?

20. If by windows, have you ways of preventing draught?

21. Are the blackboards placed between the windows? Blackboards, if possible, should be on side where there are no windows, on account of less reflection of light.

22. Are the surfaces in good condition?

23. What is the source of water-supply?

24. If from wells, give depth. Is there any privy-vault, stable, sink-drain or cesspool near? See diagram, page 43, and mark, as nearly as possible, the distance in feet from such sources of pollution. 25. Is the well protected from all surface pollution?

26. Is the condition of the well carefully looked after? (See Circular LIII. of Board, as to water-supply.)

27. Are there two privies belonging to the school-house?

28. How many feet from school-house?

29. Are the buildings kept in good order?

30. Have they vaults?

31. How often cleansed or disinfected?

32. How is it done?

33. Do trustees or others inspect buildings and school monthly? Have you a janitor?

34. If water-closets are in use, in what condition are they kept? 35. Are they always flushed with an abundance of water?

36. Are they odorless?

37. Are there any offensive or dangerous nuisances near the schoolhouse, such as barnyards, slaughter-houses, stagnant pools, &c.?

38. Is the law providing for vaccination attended to?

39. Are pupils from families where infectious or contagious diseases are prevailing excluded from school?

40. Are all the doors hung to swing outward, as the law requires? 41. In what year was the school-house built?

42. Is it a suitable house for the district? If not, state reason why. Has it proper places for hanging garments, hats, &c.?

43. Are seats and desks fitted to the size of the scholars?

44. How many pupils can be comfortably seated in the building? Is any room too crowded?

45. What is thus far the average daily attendance this quarter? 46. How many of your pupils are near-sighted?

47. Have you known pupils to become near-sighted while attending school?

48. Are there curtains, or inside or outside blinds to the windows? 49. How and to what extent is either physiology or hygiene taught? 50. Is there provision for hand and face-washing?

General remarks as to needed improvements.

Send for specimen book of State Board of Health, with questions and diagrams for inspection.

SIMILAR SPECIMEN SCHEDULE OF SANITARY INQUIRY AS TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS WITHIN YOUR INSPECTION DISTRICT.

1. Name and post-office address of institution.

2. Name and post-office address of physician.

3. Name and post-office address of chief officer. 4. Location.

5. Are buildings owned by township or county? 6. Area of ground and altitude above sea level.

7. Character of soil.

8. How are grounds improved?

9. General character of buildings and material of construction. 10. Date of erection and cost.

11. Average yearly cost of repairs.

12. Is there an accurate geological map and description?

13. Are there contour maps, topographical maps and a plan and schedule of all underground apparatus or appliance?

14. Have natural water-courses been disturbed?

15. Is there any damming up of water for ponds?

16. Give place, size, depth, character and locality of any springs and wells.

17. Are they opened or closed, and what is the mode of getting water therefrom?

18. Is there any artificial drainage?

19. Size of rooms for bed or sitting-rooms on first floor. 20. Size of rooms for bed or ward-rooms on second floor. 21. Size of rooms for bed or ward-rooms on third floor.