FIXTURES. The various faucets, sinks, and other similar appliances connected with a plumb ing system are called fixtures. Faucets, cocks, or valves are provided at each place where water is to he drawn. (See VAi.vEs.) It is important. that these should be of high grade to prevent leakage. Sinks are provided in the kitchen. the atories, in the private rooms of hotels, and some times. hut less frequently than formerly, in the sleeping rooms of private dwellings. Probably they are most commonly of marble, hut cast iron and steel, both painted and enameled, and por celain are also employed. Bathtubs are of pol ished sheet copper, formed on wood, of sqlid cop per, of painted or enameled cast iron, and of porcelain. Shower baths, sit:- baths, and foot baths are for the special purposes indicated. Woter-ciosets, so called because matter deposited into them is flushed out by a discharge of water, are most of glazed earthenware. al though in cheap work cast iron is sometimes used. The old-fashioned pan water-closet was one of the most unsanitary of all plumbing fix tures. and thousands are still in use. It con sisted of a metal pan. hinged so as to drop down ward and discharge its contents into the pipe with which it was connected. It was a centre for filth and had odors. and is no longer tolerated where sanitary principles are understood. The valve and plunger closets. operated as indicates by their names, were hut little better, and are also out of date. Most of the approved forms of a-ater-closets now in use depend for their ac tion upon the sudden discharge of a few gallons of water, generally from a tank located above the closet. The discharge is g .nerally effected by pulling a hanging chain attached to a lever and calve, hut in the case f closets in public places the tanks may discharge antomatirally.
ICec•ently. however. attachments have been intro duced for flushing water-closets without the use of a tank, the water supply being controlled by a valve, operated by a short lever, near the closet seat. In either case the water thus liberated displaces the water previously standing in the bowl or hopper of the closet or else sets it in mo tion by siphonic action, carrying the wastes with it. this means the closet is kept fairly clean. particularly the most exposed portions, and the parts not thoroughly clean are always wet. There is an almost endless variety of closets. Some of the most approved patterns are shown in section by the accompanying illustrations. Water-closet flush tanks are generally of wood, lined with copper, and provided with a float valve, a water supply, and a flush pipe. The closet seat is of hard wood. Urinals are pro vided in public places• and eonsist of either bowls or vertical slabs of non-porous material, inclosed in stalls and provided with flushing water. Latrines are a series of water-eloset stalls connected with a long trough or common flushing chamber below. They are chiefly em ployed for barracks and institutions. The terms bathroom and water-closet are frequently em ployed to desigmate the compartments which con tain a bathtub, water-closet, and set wachbowl. Such rooms should always open to the outer air. or at least into a large air-shaft, and be well lighted, ventilated, and warmed. Sill or hose cockS are faucets or valves, with a provision for attaching hose, provided at convenient points for sprinkling lawn; and washing sidewalks. In some localities they, or the hose so used, are called pave washes.