Cottager, New York City, writes:

"I have hired a cottage for the summer close to the shore, where the tide rises or falls 7 or 8 feet. The waste from the kitchen sink and water-closet is carried in a drain of earthen or iron pipe some ways down the beach to about half-way between high and low water, where it terminates in a hole filled with loose stones. This is not exactly in front of the house, and as it is well washed out with salt water twice every day it does not seem to be objectionable. The other night, however, happening to be in the kitchen when the house was quiet, my attention was attracted by a bubbling in the trap of the sink, which I at first could not understand, until I remembered that the tide was about three-quarters high and rising, and concluded that perhaps the rising water was forcing the air out of my drain though the trap.

"I would like very much to know if you think my conjecture correct, and if you consider the inflow of air from such a drain as likely to be dangerous, and what is the best way to prevent it."

[From our correspondent's account we have no doubt that his conjecture is correct; certainly the cause he suggests is abundantly able to produce the effect which he describes, and no other seems probable.

The remedy is very simple: a hole in the drain pipe anywhere above high water mark, even if only big enough to admit a lead pencil, will relieve the confined air and avoid the trouble; the only points to be observed in making such a vent are to place it where it will not be liable to become obstructed, and where the escaping air will not be an annoyance or danger to anyone.

As to the danger, it is hardly probable that under the conditions described the sewage would have sufficient opportunity to become putrid, and give off unwholesome exhalations, and seaside cottages, during the time of their occupancy, usually have doors and windows so widely open that such exhalations would be very greatly diluted; still it is much better to be on the safe side, and even if it should be safe, it certainly is not nice to have such vapors pumped into one's house twice a day.

Perhaps the most objectionable feature of the arrangement is that in winter, when the traps dry out for lack of use, or are emptied to prevent freezing, then unless the drain is closed in some way, the air from it has free access to the house, the tide maintaining a forced circulation, so that the whole building has a chance to become pretty well saturated with the emanations from whatever filth may have been left in the drain from the previous summer's occupancy.