406 APPENDIX. [No. XXXVI.c. 



the previous removal of the solid matter, and the precipitation of the 

 greater part of the dissolved parts of the animal matter. 



As defecation is a necessity, the penalty for neglect should certainly 

 be not less than 50 a day. It would not be desirable to compel sewage to 

 be defecated by any particular process, because some experience is required 

 as to which, in the long run, under all circumstances and at all times, 

 shall have the preference. The processes of precipitation by lime, by 

 alum, by sulphate of alumina, by phosphate of alumina, by alum, blood, 

 and clay, are in good repute, for their powers of precipitation, but not for 

 the expense which they entail. General Scott has invented a remarkable 

 and very original mode of dealing with the sludge. He converts it into 

 cement to be used in building, and the similarity of the mud with that 

 on the Medway, ordinarily employed for the manufacture of cement, is 

 remarkable. Doubtless this process would never entirely cover the cost of 

 the purification of sewage, though it may tend, in a great degree, to lessen 

 the expense. 



There is no question but that sewage may be rendered perfectly bright 

 and clear by precipitation, even when coloured, as at Leeds, with dye 

 matters, but then it mostly contains some animal matter in solution, which 

 has to be afterwards removed. Most praiseworthy attempts have been 

 made to render this precipitate of real agricultural value. The sludge 

 ought to contain all the manurial properties, but probably it is altered, for 

 farmers will hardly carry it away at one shilling a ton. Some inventors 

 have sought to add to it elements which may increase its value ; but 

 although some of those products are claimed to have a value of from 

 3 to 4 a ton, experience does not warrant us in saying that any one 

 process, up to this time, is a substantial commercial success. It is a 

 curious fact that the sludge of a charcoal process has the remarkable 

 power of oxidizing organic matter, from the animal charcoal which it 

 contains, and if an animal be placed in it the flesh will be entirely destroyed 

 without smell. If ever one process be found which shall yield a precipitate 

 of universally acknowledged value, the difficulties of the sewage question 

 will in a great measure be overcome. The question is not yet quite satis- 

 factorily determined which process, taking into consideration the value of 

 the resulting product, is attended with least expense. The sewage water 

 when defecated and precipitated should pass into the ground, and not over 

 the ground ; for when it passes over the ground, as I have myself often 

 seen, it passes off as sewage with all its concurrent evils. 



The fine for the impropriety of neglecting to cause the water to pass 

 into the ground might well be fixed at 10 a day, as the result would 

 greatly depend upon the irrigation being conducted in a proper and suit- 

 able manner. 



It not unfrequently happens that the sewage, when allowed improperly 

 to run over the ground, is not retained in the sewage-ground, but passes to 

 the territory of neighbouring proprietors. This is a serious injury to them, 

 for whilst the proprietor of the sewage-ground obtains as much as 12 an 

 acre for permitting the abomination on his land, otherwise not worth 3 

 an acre, the adjacent owner is subjected to all the evils and inconvenience 

 without any compensation whatever. A penalty for such a violation of the 

 rights of property might be fixed at 20 for every day when such an injury 

 is inflicted. I have myself seen the places where sewage has overflown the 



