USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1878 > Part 13
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DISTRICT IX. This district includes the most thickly settled part of the section known as West Somerville, and extends from Willow Avenue westwardly to the rear of lots on the westerly side of Irving Street. It has an area of one hundred and seventy-four acres, about one half of which is vacant land, including the "Powder- House Farm," the ledge lot on Broadway, and the low lands near the Arlington Branch Railroad. The soil in about three quarters of the settled portion is sand, and in the remaining one quarter is clay and clayey gravel. The average elevation is about forty feet above mean low tide. The population is almost entirely native-born, living in good houses. Most of the settled portions are provided with sewers, which were nearly all built in 1877. There are 273 dwellings, and the population is estimated at 1,250, being an average of four and six tenths persons to each dwelling.
DISTRICT X. This district includes College Hill, and all of West Somerville lying west of Irving and Meacham Streets. The area is four hundred and fifty-six acres, and the soil is chiefly clayey gravel. The elevation varies from one hundred and twenty- two to ten feet above mean low tide, the populated portion being on the high lands. Most of the district is a farming territory, the parts more thickly populated being the southerly slope of Claren- don Hill and the immediate neighborhood of Tufts College. The people are nearly all native-born, and live in good houses. There are no sewers. The dwellings number 136, and the estimated population is 550, being an average of four persons to each dwelling.
220
The following map shows the locations of the ten districts (the boundaries being indicated by red lines), the location of each case of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and typhoid fever reported (indicated by characters as explained in the lower right-hand corner of the map), and the locations of all the sewers in the city, which are indicated by dotted lines.
The following table shows the number of deaths, and the number of deaths per thousand of population in each district during the last five years, exclusive of patients in the McLean Asylum for the Insane.
The estimated populations are obtained in the manner stated at the beginning of the subject of Districts.
It is possible that a few errors may have been made, owing to the difficulty experienced in locating some cases of death; but the table may be accepted as substantially correct.
... MAP OF ~.
SOMERVILLE,
1879. SCALE.
SHOWING HEALTH DISTRICTS.
SANGENK
MAIN
O
VI
PEARL
D
F
F
O
M
BOSTON
8. LOWELL
RAIL
RESERVOIR
VIEL ALBION ST.
REECOTT
PAITHAM ...
AVE.
OILSAST
CENTRAL
V LAUREL
GRANITE
X
HIGHLAND
LOWELL
DEECH
Sewers shown thus:
Sewer Outlets,
Boundaries of Health Districts,
Reported Cases for 10 Months 1878 Scarlet Fever. . O Fatal Cases C
Typhoid Fever,
Diphtheria. 4
N
AVE
C
M
B
R
I
D
WALDEN BRIDGE
RITEA
S
IN
EASTERN
R.
R. R.
1000
AVE
VIII
AVE
MYSTIC
GRANY
DERBY ST.
PARK
BROADWAY
BROADWAY.'
ROSTON & MAINF.
have
HEATH
CENTRAL
B
BROADWAY.
ADAMS
LINE
CITY
LINWOOD
C
DOSTON
PLEASANT
LETLAN PUNA
Pawder Bowa
CITY
SUMMER
&D-BASIN
BROADWAY
IX
MORRISON
ARLINGTON
FORTER
BULLANO
ZAWIS
ELM
FITCHOUAC
ASGACON
1
LINE."
DOSTAN
CITY LINE
MYSTIC RIVER BR. R.P.
ASHUN
C
BRADLEY
AUAUTH AV
MILLERS RIVER
BERKLEY
ALLENO
G.und
RAILROAD.
ALEWIFE
LINGTO
BROOKE.
SUMMER
RAILROAD.
USH
C
WHEATLAND
CHAUNCEY
POND
PINCKNEY
C
WANNERLEY GT.
Tufts College
EAST CAMBRIDGE
TABLE OF DEATHS IN EACH DISTRICT DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS, EXCLUSIVE OF PATIENTS IN MCLEAN ASYLUM.
Districts
I.
II.
III.
IV
v.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
Entire City.
No. per 1,000
of population.
1874
147
37
53
14
24
16
86
33
67
16
34
37
26
11
17
25
18
15
3
8
475
22
1875
149
37
84
22
26
17
56
21
75
18
29
32
32
14
13
19
15
12
7
15
486
22
1876
113
30
62
17
17
12
62
24
78
20
23
26
25
12
11
17
25
22
10
20
426
21
1877
126
32
57
15
18
12
57
22
61
15
31
34
29
13
12
18
32
27
5
10
428
20
1878
92
22
50
12
32
21
53
19
53
12
24
25
32
14
15
21
17
14
7
13
375
17
5 years
627
33
306
16
117
16
314
24
334
16
141
31
144
13
68
20
107
18
32
14
2,190
20
of population.
No. per 1,000
of population.
No. per 1,000
No. of deaths.
No. of deaths.
No. per 1,000
of population.
No. per 1,000 of population.
No. per 1 000
of population.
No. of deaths.
No. per 1,000
of population.
No. of deaths.
No of deaths.
No. of deaths.
No. per 1,000
of population.
No. of deaths.
No. per 1,000
No. of deaths.
No. of deaths.
of population.
No. per 1,000 of population.
No. of deaths.
No. of deaths.
No. per 1.000 of population.
.
221
222
District I shows the highest average death-rate for the five years. The rate has been materially reduced however during this period, which fact is probably due in part to the filling of the basins of Miller's River, which was completed in 1875, and to the gradual improvements made in the sanitary condition of the territory since that time.
The average death-rate in District II is low. This was one of the earliest settled parts of the city, and its general sanitary condi- tion has not been materially changed during the five years. Its general location is favorable for health, and its people as a rule are thrifty and keep their premises in a neat condition.
District III also shows a low average rate. The increase in 1878 may be attributed in part to the prevalence of dangerous diseases. As the general level of the district is low, it is especially affected by the back water from the sewers at times when heavy rains and high tides occur simultaneously, and the cellars in many cases retain the dampness for a long time.
The average rate in District IV is rather high. The land is low and in many parts wet, and it is but partially provided with sewers. The rate has been somewhat reduced during the five years, which may have been effected by the construction of the trunk sewer in Washington and Beacon Streets, which was the means of draining off considerable surface water and of lowering the general water level.
In District V the rate is low. The natural location and the general character of the inhabitants are favorable for health, the district including some of the highest lands in the city. But little change has been made in its general sanitary condition during the five years under consideration, most of the sewers having been built previous to 1874.
In District VI the rate is high. . Nearly all of the settled por- tion is suffering for want of proper drainage, and to this fact we attribute the high death-rate.
The rate is the lowest in District VII, and has varied but little from year to year. The class of inhabitants, the natural location, and the drainage are all, generally speaking, good, there being but a very few localities where improved drainage facilities are needed.
The average rate in District VIII is the same as the average in the entire city. Most of the settled portion is high land, but sewers are needed to provide for the house and surface drainage.
223
In District IX the rate is a little below the average in the city, increasing from 1874 to 1877, and falling off nearly one half in 1878. We think that the advantage of sewers is very clearly shown in this case, the population increasing quite rapidly in the first three years, and the district being entirely without sewers until 1877, during which year the trunk sewer in Elm Street was com- pleted and several lateral sewers were built.
In District X the rate is next to the lowest. Most of the terri- tory is used for farming purposes, and the more thickly settled parts are well elevated.
There is one matter which has a very important bearing upon the health of any locality, but upon which we are not prepared to report at this time, and that is, the general quality of house-drain- age. In order to speak intelligently upon this subject, it would be necessary to make a thorough inspection of a large number of houses in each district, and with the limited means at our disposal, it has been impossible to do this, in addition to the general work of the department.
The three following tables explain themselves, and as they con- tain statistics for the year 1878 alone, we are not prepared to base any remarks upon them in relation to the general character of the several districts.
The fourth and last table gives the length of sewers in each district.
224
TABLE SHOWING THE FIVE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF DEATH IN THIS CITY IN 1878, WITH THE NUMBER AND RATE IN EACH DISTRICT.
CONSUMPTION.
DIPHTHERIA.
PNEUMONIA.
CHOLERA INFANTUM.
HEART DISEASE.
DISTRICT
No. of Deaths.
No. per 1,000 of pop.
No. of Deaths.
No. per
1,050 of pope
No. of Deaths.
No. per
*1, 00 of pop.
No. of Deaths.
No. per
1,000 of pop.
No. of Deaths.
No. per
1,000 of pop.
I.
17
4.15
4
0.98
7
1.71
9
2.19
2
0.49
II.
13
3.25
2
0.50
5
1.25
2
0.50
1
0.25
III.
1
0.65
4
2.58
4
2.58
2
1.29
0
0.00
IV.
8
2.91
5
1.82
3
1.00
5
1.82
2
0.73
V.
12
2.79
2
0.47
3
0.70
0.47
3
0.70
VI.
4
4.21
3
3.16
1
1.05
2
2.10
0
0.00
VII.
5
2.13
1
0.43
2
0.85
1
0.43
4
1.70
VIII.
1
1.43
2
2.86
0
0.00
1
1.43
1
1.43
IX. .
2
1.60
4
3.20
0
0.00
0
0.00
3
2.40
X.
1
1.90
0
0.00
1
1.90
1
1.90
2
3.80
Total
64
2.84
27
1.20
26
. 1.15
25
1.11
18
0.80
TABLE OF SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER IN EACH DISTRICT IN THE LAST TEN MONTHS OF 1878.
SCARLET FEVER.
DIPHTHERIA.
TYPHOID FEVER.
DISTRICT.
Cases reported.
Deaths.
Rate per cent of deaths.
Cases reported.
Deaths.
Rate per cent of deaths.
Cases reported.
Deaths.
Ratc per cent of deaths.
I . . . .
11
3
27
9
2
22
4
1
25
II .
17
1
6
8
1
13
1
III
15
5
33
8
3
38
1
1
100
1V
. . .
11
3
27
7
3
43
2
v ....
22
9
9
3
33
3
VI
. .
3
·
VII
. . .
8
3
1
VIII
...
16
1
6
1
1
100
3
1
33
IX
. ..
5
14
5
36
2
1
. 50
X
3
Total
108
15
14
70
21
30
18
4
22
8
3
38
1
225
TABLE OF NUISANCES ABATED IN FACH DISTRICT IN 1878.
CAUSE OF NUISANCE.
1.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
x.
Total.
Cellar damp .
3
3
2
.
2
1
1
19
Cesspool defective
full
in cellar offensive
1
1
1
2
2
1
3
2
13
66
under house offensive offensive
1
Drain stopped up
6.
not trapped .
2
1
1
1
3
4
1
3
1
17
66 pipe broken and leaking
56
25
4
45
29
15
12
6
10
9
211
66
emptying into ditch
5
1
6
1
4
2
1
20
Earth-closets defective and offensive,
2
Filth at tide gate across Alewife Brook . .
1
1
Filth on premises
15
3
4
8
5
1
1
1
38
Garbage on premises
3
1
2
1
2
·
24
Manure exposed .
8
2
1
2
4
Offensive material carted through streets . .
1
1
Offensive odor from putrid m 66 pig pen
ea
1
1
Polluting natural water-course
20
Slaughter-house and surrounding. fi thy
4
Slops thrown in court 66
street
yard
1
2
1
1
1
66
filthy
offensive
1
1
1
1
66
in stable cellar
11
1
14
2
6
2
66
under stable
1
16
7
30
26
14
13
4
2
182
Vault not properly constructed
12
3
4
2
1
4
2
28
2
1
3
5
2
5
2
5
1
32 1
..
not trapped .
5
5
1
]
6
2
3
2
25
66
stopped up
2
.6
not supp ied with wat r
1
1
2
Water from cellar flowing into well.
I
1
Total
207
80
21
132
120
56
51
19
56
31
773
.
.
1
1
1
4
2
11
1
not properly covered .
1
1
1
1
1
1
not properly covered
4
1
1
1
.
7
Drainage defective .
1
1
2
.
.
3
Offal thrown in street 66 on land .
1
1
2
1
4
1
15
1
1
1
4
Stable drainage detective
2
3
3
1
1
10
Stagnant water in house collar
1
$6
under house
1
1
·
·
1
5
1
9
7
Ventilation imperfect and insufficient Waste-pipes defective
1
.
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
6
Water-closet defective
covered
ventilated
5
1
2
4
2
66
on land
34
Vault full
66
.
1
1
Vault offensive
9
1
1
1
6
emptying on surface
4
1
2
1
1
2
1
.
1
1
.
4
3
1
.
15
226
LENGTH OF SEWERS IN EACH DISTRICT DECEMBER 31, 1878.
LENGTH IN FEET IN COMMON WITH OTHER DISTRICTS.
District
Length in feet wholly inside the district.
Dist. I.
Dist. II.
Dist. III.
Dist. IV.
Dist. V.
Dist. VI.
Dist. VII.
Dist. VIII.
Dist. IX.
X.
I.
17,055
. . .
2,069
960
550
1,257
·
400
II.
15,162
2,069
·
.
. .
.
1,431
2,417
III.
10,906
960
.
2,100
IV.
11,740
550
2,100
.
5,350
v.
28,223
1,257
VI.
508
. .
VII.
10,650
400
1,431
.
1,000
1,896
. .
2,746
VIII.
3,350
2,417
.
·
. .
.
2,746
IX.
11,244
. . .
. .
None in
common
X.
None.
..
.
.
None in common
.
948
1,000
5,350
948
1,896
Dist.
.
The total length of sewers laid in the city to date is 133,667 feet, or twenty-five and three tenths miles.
227
STATEMENT OF THE APPROPRIATION AND EXPENDITURES FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, 1878.
Appropriation,
Received for ashes sold,
$2,800 00 4 00
$2,804 00
EXPENDED. 1
For collecting offal,
$1,308 32
66 66 ashes,
707 34
" burying animals,
9 00
" vacating houses,
4 50
" serving legal notices in neighboring cities and towns,
23 10
" posting notices,
5 00
" fumigating,
19 00
" peppermint, bluing and lime,
21 15
" disinfectant,
20 58
" books, printing, and stationery,
120 22
" advertising,
70 50
" postage stamps,
19 00
" carriage-hire,
11 00
" salary of clerk,
100 00
" salary for inspector,
200 00
" additional compensation for in- spector,
300 00
" incidentals,
30 50
$2,969 21
Amount of pay-roll for January, ap- proved by Committee on Health, 21 80
Total for year, 2,991 01
Amount overdrawn,
$187 01
228
Regular meetings have been held weekly, and special meetings as. often as occasion has required.
Our thanks are due to the State Board of Health and the Board of Health of Boston, for valuable advice and information, to His Honor the Mayor and the City Council for their hearty co-operation,. and to Melville C. Parkhurst, Esq., Chief of Police, and his officers and men for assistance rendered.
CHARLES W. SAWYER, Chairman. EMORY L. WHITE. GEO. A. KIMBALL.
HOUSE DRAINAGE.
BY GEO. A. KIMBALL.
THE prevalence of diphtheria in our city has led to a careful ex- amination of the premises where it has been reported, and almost invariably the drainage of the infected houses was found to be defective. (See table in report of Board of Health, page 208A.)
These defects were found in the dwellings of the rich, as well as the poor ; in houses built by day work under the supervision of the owner, and in those built for speculation ; in houses connected with the public sewers, as well as in those which are drained into cess- pools.
In the upper tenement of a house on Somerville Avenue, occu- pied by a family containing three children, complaint was made of a bad odor coming from the waste-pipe at the sink, which was so offensive that it was necessary, after using the sink, to stop up the waste-pipe to prevent the stench from entering the room The premises were inspected, when it was found that a direct communica- tion existed between the sink and the sewer, that the drain was laid without traps, and that the sewer was being ventilated into the rooms of the house.
Complaint was made of a bad odor at one of our principal school- houses. On examination it was found that the water-closets were, in their general arrangement, constructed on the most recent and approved plan, but the details of the work were faulty, and they were not kept in proper repair. In addition to this, the entire sewer system in the vicinity was found to have vent into the base- ment of the schoolhouse because of imperfect trapping and broken drain-pipes ; and an intolerable nuisance was the result.
At a house on Winter Hill, in which two cases of diphtheria had occurred, the house sewer was laid at a steep grade to a cesspool in the rear, and the trap, instead of being level, was set on the same grade as the house sewer, so that the water which was in- tended to remain in the trap for a seal was allowed to run out, and
230
the bad odor from the cesspool passed unobstructed into the dwelling.
Hundreds of instances might be mentioned, but these are suf- ficient to show the nature of the defects found.
These facts in relation to the general condition of the dwellings throughout our city, and the ignorance and apathy of builders and householders on this matter of house drainage, seem to require that the common defects should be pointed out, with the method of remedy.
To guard against any misunderstanding as to the terms used and to inform those who are not familiar with the names of the differ- ent parts of house drainage, the following definitions are given : -
HOUSE SEWERS. - Pipes leading from the public sewers to the dwellings, and around and under them. (See Plate I.)
TRAPS. - Curved pipes so arranged as to retain a sufficient quan- tity of water to prevent the passage of gases. (See Plate II.)
SOIL PIPES. - Pipes leading down through the house from the water-closets, waste pipes, etc., to the house sewer. (See Plate I.)
WASTE PIPES. - Pipes to receive and conduct the waste water from sinks, bowls, baths, etc., to house sewers or soil pipes. (See Plate I.)
GREASE TRAP. - Small tight basin, receiving the waste from the sink, the end of the outlet pipe being curved downward. The dis- charge is from a point under water, and the grease rising on the surface is removed by hand. (See Plate II.)
PROMINENT DEFECTS.
The record of the inspection of houses during the year 1878 shows the following to be the most common and prominent defects in the house drainage : -
No ventilation or vent for the soil pipes or house sewers ;
Broken and cracked sewer and soil pipes ;
Open joints in pipes ;
Defective or cracked traps that will not retain sufficient water ;
Traps set on an incline that allows the water, intended as a seal, to pass off ;
Open traps in the cellars ;
Connections with sinks, bowls, and baths without traps ;
Cesspools under or too near the dwellings ;
Plate I.
Bath Tub.
Catch Bastr tr Yard
SYSTEM OF HOUSE DRAINAGE.
231
Cesspools open, overflowing, or not ventilated ;
Water-closets not supplied with water ; Water-closets not ventilated ; Privies too near the dwellings and not ventilated ; Vaults improperly constructed ;
Vaults overflowing and defective.
The principal object to be attained in a system of house drainage is the immediate removal of all waste matter, and as this filth immediately on its entering the soil or waste-pipes begins to give off the gases of decomposition, it is of equal importance that the system should be so arranged as to prevent the gases emitted from entering the rooms of the dwellings.
The following is a condensed statement of the general directions to be followed.
From the public sewer lay a house sewer of sound vitrified pipe, with tight joints to the rear of the house ; then lay an iron pipe into the cellar and connect this with a cast-iron soil pipe, extending four feet above the roof. With this soil pipe connect the water- closets and waste pipes from bowls, sinks, and baths, each to be trapped. Trap the house sewer where it leaves the cellar.
The following are directions in detail for constructing each part of a system of house drainage.
HOUSE SEWER.
The house sewer should be laid outside of the house as far as practicable. If laid in the cellar, it is liable to be cracked or injured, when the sewer gases will escape into the house ; and if the cellar floor is cemented, in case of accident the pipes are not easily accessible. When laid outside the house, sound vitrified pipe, with tight cement joints, may safely be used ; and if laid near the roots of trees, they may be prevented from forcing their way into the pipes by coating the joints with coal tar.
That portion of the house sewer in the cellar should be con- structed of the best quality of cast-iron pipe, and the joints should be run and calked with lead. Earthen and cement pipes are liable to crack or break, and it is also difficult to make a perfectly tight joint between them. The cast-iron pipe soon becomes coated inside with a greasy substance which prevents rust. This pipe should be six inches in diameter, which size will be found sufficient even for large families. A larger pipe is not easily flushed, and consequently is more liable to be clogged.
232
Care should be taken in fixing the grade, which should be uniform thoughout, and not less than one quarter of an inch fall in two feet.
Changes of direction should be made with curved pipes, and all connections with other pipes should be made with Y branch pipes manfactured for the purpose. (See Plate II.)
SOIL PIPE.
The best material for soil pipes is first quality cast iron. Much of the iron pipe used for this purpose is very light and defective. Lead should not be used, as it is liable to be damaged by the driv- ing of nails, or to be gnawed by rats. A four inch pipe is the size usually adopted, and is sufficient.
To secure ventilation for the system of house drainage, the soil pipe should. in all cases, be extended at its full size to a point four feet above the roof, and a proper cap or cowl attached.
If possible, the soil pipe should be painted on the outside with lead paint, as by this means any slight crack can be readily detected by the discoloring of the paint.
WASTE PIPE.
Lead pipes are usually used for this purpose, as they are more easily bent. They should be at least one and one quarter inches in diameter.
TRAPS.
A trap should be placed in the main house sewer just before leaving the house or in a man-hole just outside of the building. The cover of the man-hole should be perforated, and a hand-hole on the house side of the trap left open for the entrance of air, to give a circulation through the house sewer and soil pipe, and if the trap is placed inside of the cellar wall, a pipe should be extended from the house side of the trap to the open air for the same purpose. This pipe can also be used for conveying surface water from the yard to the sewer, in which case a catch-basin or pocket should be provided where the surface water enters the pipe, to catch the sand or other solid substance.
Traps are also required on the waste pipes at the connection with each sink, bath, or bowl, and they should be arranged with a screw in the bottom for cleaning or removing any obstruction.
Faten.
GREASE TRAP.
SYPHON TRAP.
INLCT.
GUTLET.
Y BRANCHES.
'/& BEND.
S TRAP.
VENT.FIPE.
ADEE& CO'S TRAP.
WARING'S SEWERGAS CHECK-VALVE.
233
The trap at the water-closet should be ventilated by a separate pipe, which may join the soil pipe at the roof.
Experience has shown that the common S trap, properly venti- lated, is the best. It should be larger than the pipe in which it is place.1, and should be ventilated from the upper part of the bend. When it is impracticable to provide this ventilation, a trap may be used which does not require ventilating. Of traps of this descrip- tion there are many different patterns, one of which is Waring's Sewer Gas Check Valve. (See Plate II.) This trap was designed by Geo. E. Waring, Sanitary Engineer, of Newport, R. I., and is pronounced by experts as reliable. Another pattern which is found to work well is Adee's trap, shown in Plate II.
CESSPOOLS
The following is quoted from the report of E. M. Snow, M. D., Superintendent of Health, Providence, R. I., to the Board of Aldermen of that city, Nov. 4, 1875 : -
" It has been proved that cesspools are pestilential nuisances, and one of the greatest abominations which can possibly be suffered to exist in the midst of a large city " ; and further, " that it is impos- sible for any population to be healthy, living amid cesspools or upon a soil permeated by decomposing animal and vegetable refuse."
At houses so situated that it is impossible to connect them with the public sewers, the cesspools should be located with great care, and placed at as great a distance from the house as the size of the lot will allow, and on no condition under or near the house. They should be built of brick, laid in Portland cement ; should be per- fectly tight, covered with a substantial iron cover, and properly ventilated.
In houses connected with public sewers, cesspools should never be used, as they retain on the premises a quantity of filth which cannot fail to become a nuisance.
The usual plan of cesspools used in this city is a hogshead or barrel set in the ground without a bottom; and the sewage is allowed to soak away in the soil, which, in a short time, becomes saturated, rendering the whole neighborhood unhealthy. Cobble- stone cesspools are no better.
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At a hearing before the Board of Health, a prominent physician expressed the opinion that the soil in a certain thickly settled neighborhood in this city was so saturated with sewage, occasioned by the use of cesspools, that it was the cause of much sickness and death from miasmatic diseases ; in proof of which he gave a list of cases in the neighborhood which he had attended.
GREASE TRAPS.
In hotels, eating-houses, boarding-houses, and in some families, on account of the carelessness of the servants, grease is allowed to waste, which adheres to the inside surface of the house sewer and waste pipes, and sometimes collects to such an extent as to clog them. The experience in our own city from this trouble has not been great, as very few such cases have occurred, and none to our knowledge where the house was supplied with hot water, a liberal use of which warms the grease and allows it to pass off with the liquid matter.
Grease traps should be used only when absolutely necessary, as they are in construction simply cesspools on a small scale. They require cleaning frequently, which process usually causes a nuisance of itself, and as it is not considered a very pleasant undertaking, is for that reason often neglected.
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