ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. IX. 



sewage from large cities, and to the process now so widely known 



as the 'septic tank system,' the 'biolysis of sewage,' or as the 



author would call it — the zymolysis of sewage. Particulars are 



given of the method of experiment, both in England and in 



Australia. It is shown that over fifty per cent, of purification is 



effected without the aid of chemicals of any kind, the effluents 



being of sufficient degree of purity as to sustain the life of various 



kinds of fish, and to occasion no harmful influence when run into 



streams. The process is summed up as being the readiest and the 



cheapest method of purification known. The rationale of the 



method is, that first of all a fermentation is allowed to go on 



by which the proteid or albuminous matters are changed into 



ammonia, marsh gas, and carbonic acid gas, afterwards the process 



of nitrification by minute micro-organisms finishes the change 



from ammonia to nitrous and nitric acids — compounds all ready 



to become assimilated by plant life. Thus, it is a simple natural 



process, and may be looked upon as the natural process of sewage 



purification, but subject to control ; in this respect differing from 



all other processes, which are not subject to control. The birth 



of chemistry showed man searching for a stone that would turn 



all the baser metals into gold, and an elixir or — 



'A tincture 

 Of force to flush Old Age with Youth/ 



But while men were engaged in these things, some valuable lessons 



were learned, and as a result, we have our present day chemistry 



and the means of solving many problems of Sanitation and the 



Public Health. 



A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring President, and 

 Professor Liversidge, m.a., ll.d., f.r.s., was installed as President 

 for the ensuing year. 



Professor Liversidge thanked the members for the honour 

 conferred upon him. 



The following donations were laid upon the table and acknow- 

 ledged : — 



