UTILIZATION OF SEWAGE. 



37 



Paralyzation of the infusoria stopped oxidation of the organic 

 matter. 



We have eminent German authority for the statement 

 that " there is not a particle of loss of fertilizing matter in 

 a closed conduit having a run of seven miles." There is no 

 indication of decom[)osition of the sewage of Boston when 

 it first reaches Moon Island. The Royal Commissioners of 

 England, after experiment, report that there is not a river in 

 the kingdom, supposing it to have an average run of one 

 mile per hour, long enough to dispose of ten per cent, of 

 sewage by oxidation. 



The system requires close attention, for the pervious tile 

 soon becomes impervious by a coating of grease and tilling 

 of spaces with insoluble matter. This was the experience 

 at Gennevilliers Avhich caused the sub-surface distril)uting 

 drains to be discarded. It is so at the Women's Prison 

 in Sherborn, where this system is employed at an expense 

 of fourteen thousand dollars for five acres. 



The system is nothing more or less than a leaching cess- 

 pool, which analyses of the effluent water conclusively 

 prove. 



Women's Prison Si/stem. PaHs per 100,000. 



Irrigation and Agriculture. 



Berlin has two large farms devoted to this object, one of 

 2,035 acres and another of 1,818. A great many chemical 

 experiments were tried before the adoption of the present 

 system. They proved very expensive and none purified the 

 water, although many clarified it. Finally, after experi- 

 mentins: in irrifjation and ao;riculture on a little field of 

 about eifjht acres, such favorable results were realized that 

 this system was adopted for the city, the eminent Virchow 

 being one of its principal advocates. At the present time 



