469 



septic gases, all of which it decomposes, inclusive of car- 

 buretted and phosphuretted hydrogen, whilst the lime itself 

 rapidly takes up the carbonic acid. 



3rd. Because chlorine combines volume for volume with 

 the hydrogen so as to form hydrochloric acid, with a density 

 but little greater than that of common air, the action of 

 which upon minute malarious putrid particles, if present, and 

 upon their assumed vehicle, aqueous vapour, I have reason to 

 believe is destructive of their power in the dissemination of 

 the principles of contagious matter. 



4th. That whilst the gradual extrication of chlorine, and 

 its resulting compound gas, in an atmosphere charged with 

 hydrogen, is very respirable in most cases, and those few in 

 which its use might be objected to certainly not communicable 

 diseases, the wetting of sheets with the liquid may be dis- 

 pensed with as superfluous. 



And lastly, because I find it relatively with the other fluids 

 more effectual, and at a less pecuniary cost than some of 

 them, in correcting the nuisance of bad odours, whether in 

 chambers, in water-closets, or in urinary vessels. 



We have here samples of some of the fluids in question ; 

 and of their relative efficacy in divesting night-soil of its 

 stench, I shall give you an opportunity to judge from ex- 

 periment, as the decision of the society will carry great 

 weight with the public out of doors. 



A claim has been set up on the part of Mr. Ellerman's 

 preparation on its property of coagulating the semi-fluid 

 night-soil, and converting it into a thick paste, so as to 

 favour its collection and removal as a manure. But if inter- 

 mixed with coal-ashes, this faculty, I apprehend, furnishes 

 no available advantage ; and if otherwise, the pumps made 

 use of by the Metropolitan Commissioners of Sewers will 

 more expeditiously cleanse cesspools, though assuredly at 

 present to the entire loss of their fertilizing contents. 



Assuming two per cent, of the concentrated solution to 



