History of Sanitation

HISTORY OF SANITATION 35 untrapped end of the sewer noxious gases were contin- ually arising to vitiate the surrounding air. The only ventilation the sewers of Rome had was through these untrapped ends. Many of the houses of Rome were lofty and inhabited near the top by the poor, who—drainage systems not extending above the first floor—had very imperfect means for carrying off rubbish and other accumulations. A prac- tice seems to have grown up then of throwing such liquid and solid matter from the windows, sometimes to the dis- comfort or injury of hapless pedestrians. To provide against accidents due to this cause, the De- ject! Effusive Act was passed, which gave damages against a person who threw or poured out anything from a place or upper chamber upon a road frequented by passersby, or on a place where people used to stand. The act, however, gave damages only when, the person was in- jured, but nothing was recoverable if the wearing ap- parel was damaged. A strange provision of this act was' that it applied only in the daytime and not to the night, which, however, was the most dangerous time for passersby.