History of Sanitation

Part 1

History of Sanitation

By J. J. COSGROVE

Author of

"Principles and Practice of Plumbing," "Sewage Purification and Disposal," "Wrought Pipe Drainage Systems," and "Plumbing Plans and Specifications"

Published by

Standard Sanitary Mfg. Co.

PITTSBURGH, U. S. A.

Copyright 1909 by Standard Sanitary Mfg. Co., Pittsburgh, U. S. A.

Preface

When the manuscript for this volume was prepared, there was no decided intention of publishing it in book form. Originally it was intended to appear as a serial in "Modern Sanitation," and grew out of a request from the Editor of that magazine to write an article that would trace the advancement made in sanitation from its earliest stages to the present time.

Sanitation has been given but little thought by historians, consequently, considerable study and research were necessary to dig from musty tomes and ancient records a story that would prove interesting and instructive. Having succeeded in gathering together much of interest to sanitarians, and in view of the fact that no other history of sanitation was ever written, the work was deemed worthy of a more permanent place in literature, and it was decided to put it forth in more enduring form. The book is therefore offered to the public with the fervent hope that those who read its pages will derive as much pleasure as did the author in preparing the manuscript.

J. J. COSGROVE

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

February 15th, 1909

Publisher's Note

The primary object of our organization is, as is universally known, to manufacture and market ~"Standard"~ Plumbing Fixtures, Brass Goods and other products made in our factories. In the development of an organization to accomplish this result, there has been established an Advertising and Publishing Department of no small proportions, and the "History of Sanitation" is simply the outgrowth of the work of this department. This brief statement will, we believe, serve to give the public a clear understanding of our somewhat unique position of being at the same time manufacturers and publishers.

The first serious work of the Publishing Department on a large scale was "Modern Sanitation" (established June, 1904). From this came the publication, first in serial form and later as a book, of J. J. Cosgrove's first work, "Principles and Practice of Plumbing" (book published December, 1906). The phenomenal success of the book is a matter of general knowledge, although it may not be widely known that "Principles and Practice of Plumbing" has been adopted as a text book in more than thirty universities and colleges in the United States, and bids fair to be adopted in others. This magnificent achievement has been accomplished solely on the merit of the work and without solicitation on the part of either the author or publisher.

There is now offered almost simultaneously two new books by Mr. Cosgrove, one being the volume in hand and the other "Sewage Purification and Disposal."

In "History of Sanitation," "Sewage Purification and Disposal" and "Principles and Practice of Plumbing" we feel that the literature of the craft has been enriched in an enduring manner, and that we have fully justified our appearance in the field of publishers as amply as we have our standing as manufacturers of a world-wide known and used product.

=Standard Sanitary Mfg. Co.=

=Pittsburgh, U. S. A.=

Publishing Department

Explanatory Description of Full Page Illustrations

ANCIENT ROMAN FOUNTAIN AT CORINTH Page 6

An old fountain at Corinth, Greece, whose piping and stone construction date from about the time of the Christian era. It was standing here when St. Paul lived and taught in Corinth, and is still the only source of water supply for a large contingent of Greek housekeepers. Drinking water is carried home in jars, but washing is done on the spot, just as it was centuries ago.

THE ROMAN AQUEDUCT OF SEGOVIA, SPAIN Page 36

This aqueduct is 937 feet long, and consists of 320 arches in two tiers, the highest arch in the lower tier being 102 feet. It is supposed to have been built in the time of Trajan.

Segovia was an ancient Roman city located in old Castile, Spain, and was the residence of the kings of Leon and Castile.

Part 2

THE OLDEST BATHROOM IN THE WORLD Page 76

This photograph was made at the ruined palace and fortress of Tiryns, in Greece. It is regarded by archæologists as one of the oldest cities in the world, and is mentioned by name in Greek poetry of 2,000 years ago. Its rulers must have been men of great importance, as their stone palace (parts of its walls and galleries are as firm and solid as ever) was a structure of splendid dimensions and substantial character.

There is no doubt the 8 × 9-foot slab of stone seen in the picture formed the floor of a bathroom. At the farther edge there still remains the slanting groove cut in as an outlet for water.

BATHING AND BURNING HINDU DEAD AT BENARES Page 90

Dipping a corpse in the holy waters of the Ganges River before burning it on the bank—a daily occurrence at Benares, India. Some worshipper may very likely drink the water only twenty feet away.

THE FOUNTAIN OF ELISHA Page 108

The waters of this ancient fountain were miraculously sweetened by the Prophet Elisha.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I

Page

Sanitation of Primitive Man—Early Wells—Rebekah at the Well—Joseph's Well—Well at the Rancho Chack 1

CHAPTER II

Cisterns—Early Mention of Cisterns—Cisterns of Carthage—Early Methods of Raising Water—Water Carriers—Pool of Siloam—Pool of Solomon—Aqueducts—Carthagenian Aqueduct—Aqueducts of Rome—Aqueduct of Segovia, Spain—Trophies of Marius 7

CHAPTER III

Early Sewage Disposal—Removal of Offensive Materials from Temples of Jerusalem—Sewage Systems of a Pre-Babylonian City—Sewers of Rome—The Cloaca Maxima—The Dejecti-Effusive Act 29

CHAPTER IV

Origin of Bathing—Early Greek Baths—Roman Private Baths—Public Baths of Rome—Ruins of Baths of Caracalla—Description of the Thermæ—The Thermæ of Titus at Rome—Baths of Pompeii—Heating Water for Roman Baths—Thermæ of Titus Restored 37

CHAPTER V

Fall of the Roman Empire—Succeeding Period Known as the Dark Ages—Sanitation During the Dark Ages—Beginning of Material Progress in Sanitation—Pilgrimage to Juggernaut—Water Supply in Paris—London Water Supply—Aqueduct of Zempoala, Mexico 63

CHAPTER VI

Introduction of Pumping Machinery into Waterworks Practice—The Archimedes Screw—Use of Pumps in Hanover, Germany—First London Pump on London Bridge—Savery and Newcomen's Pumping Engine—The Hydraulic Ram—Pumping Engines Erected for the Philadelphia Waterworks—Pipes for Distributing Water—Hydrants and Valves for Wooden Pipes—Data Regarding the Use of Wooden Pipes—Modern Pumping Engines 77

CHAPTER VII

Early British Sewers—Sewer in the Great Hall of Westminster—Shape of Early English Sewers—Adoption or Recommendation of Pipe Sewers—Early Paris Sewers—Paris Sewers of To-day—Lack of Sewage Data in America—Effect of Memphis Epidemics on Sanitary Progress 85

CHAPTER VIII

Sanitary Awakening—Realization of the Danger of Unwholesome Water—Cholera in London Traced to the Broad Street Pump—An Historical Stink 91

CHAPTER IX

Introduction of Water Filters—Striking Example of the Efficiency and Value—Cholera at Altona and Hamburg—Purification of Sewage—The Automatic Scavenger of Mouras—Investigations of the Massachusetts State Board of Health—Garbage Destruction 109

CHAPTER X

Part 3

Modern and Recent Plumbing Fixtures—Passing of the Marble Lavatory—Public Wash Houses—Public Comfort Stations—Conclusion 119

List of Illustrations

Page

1 Rebekah at the Well 2

2 Well at the Rancho Chack 4

3 Ancient Roman Fountain at Corinth 6

4 The Cisterns at Carthage 7

5 Pole and Bucket for Raising Water 8

6 Ruins of Ancient Cisterns 8

7 Old Roman Water-Wheel 9

8 Water Carrier with Jar 9

9 Water Carrier with Goat-Skin Bag 11

10 Pool of Siloam 12

11 Pool of Solomon 13

12 Aqueduct near Tunis, Leading to Ancient Carthage 14

13 Ancient Roman Well 15

14 Ruins of a Roman Aqueduct 17

15 Distant View of the Claudia Aqueduct 18

16 Near View of the Claudia Aqueduct 19

17 Aqueduct in Ruins, Ephesus 20

18 Roman Aqueduct, Segovia, Spain 22

19 Water Tower and Roman Ruins, Chester, England 23

20 Roman Water Pipes, made of Bored-out Blocks of Stone 24

21 Trophies of Marius 25

22 Old Roman Lead and Terra Cotta Pipe 26

23 The Women's Baths, Pompeii 28

24 The Cloaca Maxima. From an old woodcut 31

25 The Cloaca Maxima. From a recent photograph 32

Part 4

26 Egyptian Lady Having Head Sprayed, 1700 B. C. 33

27 Greek Women Bathing 34

28 Greek Bath Tubs 34

29 The Roman Aqueduct of Segovia, Spain 36

30 Mosaic from Floor of Baths of Caracalla 37

31 Ruins of the Baths of Caracalla, Rome 38

32 Interior of the Frigidarium, Caracalla 39

33 Outer Row of Baths, Caracalla, Rome 41

34 Thermæ of Titus at Rome 46

35 Clipeus. From an old woodcut 46

36 Floor Plan of the Baths of Pompeii 47

37 Frigidarium. From an old woodcut 48

38 Atlantes 50

39 Coppers for Heating Water in Roman Baths 52

40 Ground Plan of Thermæ of Caracalla 55

41 Hypocaust for Heating Water, Thermæ of Caracalla 57

42 Restoration of Thermæ of Titus. (Restored by Leclerc) 58

43 Plan of the Thermæ of Titus, Rome. (Restored by Leclerc) 59

44 Sectional Elevation, Thermæ of Titus, Rome 60

45 Frigidarium, Thermæ of Caracalla, Rome. (Restored by Viollet-le-Duc.) 61

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