THomson.—On the Cleansing of Towns. 69 
part of the nuisances to be got rid of. The proportion of excreta must 
necessarily vary with the industries and habits of the towns or cities, in 
manufacturing populations the refuse from factories being great, while with 
residential populations this must be limited. Hence, in inland towns, we 
observe the present measures of municipalities discouraging water-closets 
and promoting some form or other of the dry system. 
In a colony such as ours, where new municipalities are being annually 
incorporated, it is desirable that in their varied responsibilities they should 
not neglect sanitary reform. Though in the early stages of a town cess- 
pools are not to be avoided, yet in relation to the health of the people these 
should, as early as possible, be abolished by law, and in the first place the 
dry system instituted, until they have obtained a water-supply and fully 
considered their facilities of removal and the permanent sites to which 
they could conduct the sewage, with the least offence to interests in 
their neighbourhood. 
