10 SEWAGE AND ITS PURIFICATION 



4. The privy must be roofed to keep out rain, and provided 

 with ventilating openings as near the top as practicable ; that 

 part of the floor of the privy which is not under the seat must 

 be not less than 6 inches above the level of the adjoining ground, 

 must be flagged or paved with hard tiles, and must have an 

 inclination towards the door of the privy of |- inch to the foot. 



A properly laid cement floor is far preferable, as the spaces 

 between tiles or flags, and the unevenness resulting from wear, 

 render them difficult to keep clean and to repair. 



5. The next regulation is intended to prevent the accumula- 

 tion of filth in large pits that are still frequently found behind 

 rows of cottages, and to secure at least a weekly removal. 



" The capacity of the receptacle under the seat of the privy 

 must not exceed 8 cubic feet (50 gallons) ; the floor of this 

 receptacle must be in every part at least 3 inches above the 

 level of the adjoining ground ; its sides and floor must be made 

 of impermeable material — they may be flagged or asphalted or 

 constructed of g-inch brickwork rendered in cement; the seat 

 may be hinged, or other means of access to the contents of the 

 receptacle must be provided ; and the receptacle must not 

 communicate with any drain or sewer." 



The chief utility of such regulations is to secure regular 

 inspection and the power of using compulsory measures on 

 definite lines where necessary. Almost all middens and privies 

 are constantly offensive, especially in hot weather ; that people, 

 from habit, do not notice the nuisance does not prevent its 

 being injurious to health. A sprinkling of dry cinders or ashes 

 avoids to a certain extent the offensiveness. 



The Pail System. — In Rochdale and some Northern towns 

 the excreta are collected in iron or tarred-oak pails provided 

 with lids. They are placed under the seat of the closet, which 

 should be well ventilated ; the contents are covered with 

 cinders or ashes, and removed at least once a week, a clean 

 pail being substituted. The contents should be kept as dry as 

 possible, and if it is designed to convert the matter afterwards 

 into manure, nothing but the excreta and a minimum of ashes 

 should be thrown into the pail. Some villages and many 

 Continental towns carry out the pail system more crudely, the 

 pails being collected at night-time, and the contents — hence 

 called " night-soil " — with or without a perfunctory disinfection, 

 emptied into ditches or pits, which when full are covered up 

 with earth. 



