EXCREMENTS AND URINE. 101 



times as much azotized substances, and six times as 

 much alkalies and alkaline salts, as the solid faeces. 

 Hence, therefore, it follows that the former possesses 

 a far higher value than the latter, and deserves to be 

 most carefully collected. If the total value of the an- 

 nual excretions of a man is assumed to be llj, then 

 nearly 9 must be taken as the worth of the urine, 

 and only 2 J as that of the faeces. Upon a more lib- 

 eral diet, such as is usual in the more wealthy class- 

 es of society, a larger quantity of manure, and of 

 more invigorating quality, is of course produced ; in 

 this case, its yearly value may perhaps rise to from 

 13i to 18. 



From the preceding observations, it may be inci- 

 dentally perceived what an immense capital is un- 

 profitably lost in large cities, where the greater pro- 

 portion of urine runs into the sewers and drains. 

 To turn this to available use is indeed associated 

 with considerable difficulty ; since, apart from its 

 collection, the conversion of the fluid mass into a 

 dry substance (urate, urinous extract), capable of 

 transportation, would demand a very heavy outlay 

 and extensive apparatus. 



The soil procured from vaults upon country farms 

 is most judiciously added to heaps of earth or com- 

 posl, as it then soon loses its disgusting odor, and is 

 converted into a pulverulent mass, which, when 

 mixed with earth, can be easily scattered, and at the 

 same time equally distributed over the ground. The 

 dried human excrements here and there met with in 

 9* 



