Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 26.djvu/850

830 temperature and tone, and too much care can not, therefore, be taken in its proper sanitary arrangement. Above all, in new houses it is important that the whole surface of the ground shall be covered with concrete, and that proper damp courses shall be inserted in the walls to keep down all damp, with air-bricks for ventilation under all wood floors. The basements should be, in every sense, dry and sweet, and all passage-floors made absolutely damp-proof, and the latter can best be done by putting down Portland cement concrete six or eight inches thick, finished off to a fair surface so as to form an even floor, and not, as is so often done, with a thin layer or covering of finer cement over the concrete bed, which, by-and-by, is sure to peel off and leave a rugged and uneven surface.

The scullery should, as a rule, form part of the kitchen, where the kitchen is not used for servants' meals and sitting-room, and not be shut off, or, if so, only by a low glass screen. It is merely a washing-up place, and should be under the immediate supervision of the cook, and not, as is so often the case, a small, dark, unpleasant, and ill-ventilated hole, in which bad smells are supposed to be allowed. It should be as fresh and as sweet as any other portion of the basement.

Line the whole of the scullery walls and, as far as possible, those of the kitchen also, with glazed tiles, so that there be no absorption and retention of the smells which must necessarily accrue with the ordinary work of this portion of the house; bring in fresh air, provide means for extraction of foul, but do not make a pestilential corner.

I can not too strongly advocate the finishing of all the walls in a basement, so far as the working portion of it, and the passages, are concerned, with glazed tiles; they are cleanly, absolutely non-absorbent, reflect and give light, are easily washed, and tend to make the house sweet and healthy. The pantries and larders should be so arranged that they have continued ingress of fresh air, and should in all cases be lined with glazed tiles or bricks, so that the emanations from the contents should not be absorbed in distempered walls.

They can easily be made fresh by bringing in outside air, by means of external gratings and tubes, and everything should be done to provide a constant draught and sweeping out of the foul air which is naturally engendered by hanging game and uncooked meat. The shelves should be of slate, or, better still, of polished marble, so as to be absolutely non-absorbent and easily cleaned.

As in all town-houses, where space is limited, a large portion of the rear offices derive their light and air from the small inclosed areas at the back, it is of the utmost importance that these areas should be lined with glazed bricks, to keep them as light and as sweet as possible, and, as the air at the bottom is likely to become stagnant and vitiated, a direct current should be insured up all these small light areas, by means of a large induct shaft built under the basement floor