Q. Last winter the water-pipes and the soil-pipe in my house in Brooklyn burst, and after some days we accidentally discovered that water-closet filth had leaked down and saturated a large place in the cellar-bottom, which is simply the natural soil, not cemented, nor even floored over. Now that warm weather is coming on, I am afraid of consequences and think of moving out. I have taken dry, clean earth and spread over the saturated place, and that has seemed to purify the air. Is there anything else to be done? Are there any disinfecting substances which can be tried with success, or must the cellar be dug out? I may say that the landlord of this house will do nothing if not compelled to. It was only when the plumber whom he hired refused to patch up the pipe and insisted on putting in a new one that he would have it done.

A. We should remove the foul earth and replace with new.