88 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
or opening B. The bottom of the hopper and of the receptacle is 
inclined at an angle of from 33 to 45 degrees towards the front of the 
closet, so that the dry moss or other absorbent may slide down as 
used towards the opening at the bottom of the receptacle. Of course, 
it is quite possible to construct a mechanical arrangement at the open- 
ing 6, connected with an additional cover or lid, which, on closing 
the latter, would cause a sufficient quantity of absorbent to be thrown 
down into the receptacle. At the lowest place in the latter there 
is an opening through which the moss and excreta descend to the 
space D. ÆE indicates the floor upon which the contents of the 
receptacle collect, and may be mixed and spread out. At G is shown. 
a box for containing the moss litter or dry moss for use in covering 
the excrement. Instead of using the floor, a shallow box may be 
substituted, lined with thin sheet iron, but this has not been found 
to be indispensable. 
The manner in which the closet is operated is as follows:—The 
moss litter, turf powder, peat dust or other absorbent, or the moss 
manure hereinafter to be described, is introduced into the hopper, F", 
and, by means of a small hook or hoe, or stick, is drawn or pushed 
down through the hopper, F#?, and opening, B, until sufficient has 
been introduced to cover the bottom of the receptacle. This done, 
the closet is ready to be used. After completing the evacuations, 
the person using it draws a sufficient quantity of the moss or absorb- 
ent from the back part of the receptacle by means of the small hoe 
and covers the solid excrement with it, or he may obtain the dry moss 
from the box, G. This completely prevents the escape of disagree- 
able odour, and the closet may be thus used without annoyance until 
the receptacle and the space beneath it are nearly filled. The urine 
is readily absorbed by the moss, provided the latter is not too dry. 
When the excreta and absorbent have accumulated in the receptacle 
and space G to an inconvenient extent, they are thoroughly mixed, by 
means of a long-handled shovel and spread over the floor, ZL. 
The mixture thus spread is occasionally turned over, which may 
be done without the slightest annoyance, by any servant or municipal 
labourer, on the other side of the dividing partition from the closet, 
without interfering with its use. The manure spread over the floor 
loses moisture and dries sufficiently to be fitted for use in the closet 
again. It is then shovelled into the hopper, #’, and takes the place 
of fresh moss or other absorbent. It is still capable of taking up 
the disagreeable emanations from solid excrement and urine, and may 
thus be used over again an indefinite number of times until, indeed, 
it has become too wet for rapid drying. It may then be removed 
to a special drying floor, allowed to lose more moisture, and may be 
