380 



aud cliscliarge fan, which is mado to rotate with great velocity Ijy means of a iiowerful 

 steam-engine. 



The mode of collecting the deodorized and disinfected contents of the ccss-pits or 

 other receptacles of fecal matter must depend in some measure on circumstances, the 

 barometric system being preferred, by which, in half an hour, the work of the gicater 

 part of a night under the old bucket system, is effected without noise, dirt, or bad 

 odor of any nature, and, under proper regulations, without the slightest disturbance 

 to the inhabitants. When the iron cylinder, or barrel-cart, with the pump and hrjse, 

 cannot bo conveniently employed, equally effective measures will be adopted to pre- 

 vent the possibility of nuisance. As soon as a cess-pit is emptied, such chemicaLi arc 

 introduced into the empty pit as will effectually prevent the fermentation of the urine, 

 which generally commences within a few hours after its deposition, and will entirelj' 

 fix the ammonia, and retain it until the pit will require to be re-emptied. The fer- 

 mentation of the urine converts all the different forms of the ammonia contained in 

 the solid and fluid excretie into carbonate of ammonia, which, being of the most vola- 

 tile nature, has hitherto escaped so rapidly from the pits into the air, to the great det- 

 riment of the public health and loss to agriculture, thai in less than one year it has 

 been foimd that at least 50 per cent, of that valuable salt has been liberated ; but under 

 the operation of my process the whole of the ammonia will, be preserved for the 

 benefit of agriculture. The carts are theu drawn to the works, which should be erected 

 at such a distance from the town as uot to offend the most delicate susceptibilities, 

 though, in fact, nuisauce of any nature is rendered absolutely impossible, every oper- 

 ation, from the collection of the raw material to the packing of the manure in bags 

 for the market, being conducted in hermetically-closed vessels. The excreta? are theu 

 discharged. into large fire-brick evaporating-chambers, from 30 to 60 feet in length, or 

 longer, if necessary ; 6 feet wide aiid 5 feet 10 inches high, * * * The evaporation 

 of the excreta? to dryness is effected by means of one or more furnaces or fires, so ar- 

 ranged that the heat shall pass under, up the sides, and inside, under the arched roof 

 of the chambers, and over the surface of the liquid to be evaporated, all the soot and 

 gaseous products of the coal employed in the manufacture of the manure being drawn 

 over the surface with great rapidity, iu combination with the vapors from the fluid 

 portion of the excretas, by means of a powerful exhaust and discharge fan, as before 

 stated, which is made to rotate with great velocity by means of a steam engine, so as 

 to supersede the necessity of a chimuey-shaffc, and keep all the gases aud vapors under 

 perfect control, aud prevent them fi'om coming in contact with the atmosphere. The 

 vapors and gases are then conducted or discharged with considerable force into a large 

 iron receiving-tank, surrounded by water for the condensation of the vapors, when the 

 carbureted hydrogen gas and the atmospheric air pass off by an ascension-pipe on the 

 top of the receiver into a gasometer, or otherwise, for fiu'ther treatment, as may be 

 deemed necessary, the ammouiacal gases from the coal consumed in all the operations 

 of the factory, being conducted iuto the same receiving-tank, are retained therein, and 

 form with the water of condensation a weak solution of ammonia, commonly called 

 ammouiacal liquor, which is subsequently drawn off" into a large cast-iron still, and 

 converted, in the ordinary manner, into sulphate of ammonia, which is added to the 

 manure to increase the percentage of that salt therein, or may be sold sejiarately as an 

 article of commerce. 



Having thus shown that all the oi)eratious of the factory are 'conducted iu hermeti- 

 cally closed vessels, and that nuisance from the emanation of bad odors or mephitic 

 gases of any kind is rendered impossible, I will only fiulher observe on this part Of 

 the subject, that all the details of constxuction, furuaces, dampers, flues, steam-pipes, 

 (fcc, being accurately set forth in the drawings and the diagrams submitted for 

 examination, it is unnecessary hero to enter into anj' minute description of their details, 

 as it will suffice to state that ample provision is.made for all possible contingencies, 

 buch as the continuous agitation of the excreta? by steam power during the rapid evap- 

 oration of its liquid portion — the iatroductiou of a jet of steam, through the hollow 

 shaft of the agitator — into the evaporating chamber at the commencement aud again 

 toward the conclusion of the operation, to prevent injury to the agitator, &c., until 

 the vapors arise, us well as shutting ofl' the tire by means of dampers from under the<y 

 invert of the chamber at a certain point of the operation, and passing it entirely over 

 the surface of the nearly dry sediment, but under the crown of the arched roof, to 

 prevent the charring thereof, and the consequent deterioration of the manure. The 

 dry sediment or manure is theu removed by long scrapers, or other suitable means, into 

 the cooling chamber, which is constructed with a cupola roof, the top of which is fur- 

 nished with a small exhaust-fan for carrying oft' the heated air, the cooling being 

 further expedited by the admixture, in suitable proportions with the hot dry sediment, 

 of the cold ash i)roclucts or charcoal obtained either by the simple incineration or by 

 the conversion iu closed ovens or kilns of the waste animal aud vegetable substances 

 of the district or locality iu which the process may be established, so that, whatever 

 may be the nature of the wastes, they may be utilized for agriculture and the improved 

 sanitary condition of the locality. 



