WA Aa E E i iA spes 
TxHomson.—On the Cleansing of Towns, 51 
It is right to add, the report continues, that at Edinburgh, Croydon and 
other places, no evil effects to health have been traced to the influence of 
the farms irrigated by their sewage; but as to the land itself, sometimes 
enormous quantities of sewage are applied in season and out of season, till 
the surfeited land is sick, and even then it has to take more. If the land 
were obtainable at an ordinary agricultural value, suitable for the reception 
and distribution of sewage without pumping, a sewage farm might be made 
to yield a profit. 
Regarding chemical treatment, the report states that purification of 
Sewage is possible, and is carried out successfully at Bradford, Leeds, 
Coventry, Birmingham and other towns, but, so far as the Deputation had 
been able to ascertain, the sale of the so-called manure appears to have 
failed of accomplishment, and this is not to be wondered at, as the processes 
fail to consume the ammonia and potash salts, whieh are the most valuable 
part. € 
As a precipitant, lime appears to be most capable of universal application, 
especially if supplemented by some form of charcoal. The A, B, C process 
was examined, but with unfavourable results, and the manure obtained by 
this process has a very low market value; the manipulations are also 
attended with a most nauseous odour. 
Intermittent filtration has been carried out quite successfully at Merthyr 
Tydvil, but the conditions there are so exceptional that there are very few 
places where the process could be pursued with equally satisfactory results. 
It appears to be in operation also at Kendal. 
Referring to the defects of the water-carriage system, the report points 
out the decomposition and evolution of sewer-gases, calling for careful 
ventilation in all cases. 
Water-closets should be discouraged in small houses owing to the greater 
likelihood of their getting out of order. Drainage from stables and byres 
should be absolutely prohibited, and chemical factories should be under 
close regulation, as, where the disinfectant is cheap, there can be no hard- 
ship to the proprietors. 
Coming to the dry system as affecting Glasgow, it is stated that the 
number of houses is 100,000, water-closets numbering only 32,000, showing 
that half the population is provided with these, the other half being supplied 
with other conveniences in one form or another of the dry-closet. This 
branch has therefore occupied much of the attention of the Deputation. In 
Leeds the old-fashioned privies are being replaced by trough water-closets ; 
in Manchester and Birmingham, on the other hand, water-closets are being 
systematically repressed, and elaborate attention is being paid to the develop- 
