I 10 
Labourers' Cottages. 
[may, 
Drainage. — In some districts it is not usual to provide 
sinks, and slops and other refuse are deposited direct on to 
the garden ; but where sinks are provided or water-closets 
are adopted, in districts which are so sparsely populated 
that the provision of a suitable drainage system becomes 
impracticable, cesspools are permissible. They are liable, 
however, to become a source of nuisance and danger to 
health, and should be constructed at a distance of at least 
50 ft. from a dwelling-house, and, with a view to the pre- 
vention of risk of water pollution, at a distance of at least 
60 or 80 ft. from any well, spring, or stream of water used 
for drinking purposes. They should be constructed of good 
brickwork in cement, rendered in cement 1 in. thick, and have 
a dished concrete bottom also rendered in cement, with a back- 
ing of 9 in. or 12 in. of well-puddled clay; they should be 
domed over in cement, and finished with a hard stone cover 
with a ring let in, or an iron air-tight manhole cover. The 
drainage to cesspools should be similar in all respects to 
drains connected to a regular sewer : the pipes should be 
jointed in cement, inspection-chambers should be provided 
at all turning-points or junctions, and an interceptor and a 
ventilating inlet and outlet to each. The chief objection to 
cesspools is that many of them are not water-tight, and the 
contents escaping and permeating the surrounding soil often 
contaminate the sources of water-supply : hence the necessity 
for careful construction. Rain-water, if not required, as well 
as surface water, should not be conveyed to the cesspools, but. 
taken away clear of the foundations, and either allowed to 
soak away or to be discharged into a ditch or watercourse. 
Where earth-closets with a fixed receptacle are provided, 
they should be constructed at least 10 ft. from the dwelling- 
houses in such a manner and in such a position as to admit 
of the frequent and effectual application of a sufficient 
quantity of dry earth or ashes, and in such a position as will 
admit of ready access for the removal of contents. In any 
case, the contents should not be allowed to remain undis- 
turbed for a period exceeding three months. The receptacle 
should be formed of impervious material, the floor being 
raised about 3 in. above the level of the surrounding ground, 
so that the contents may not at any time be exposed to any 
