554 
THOMPSON YATES LABORATORIES REPORT 
For surface drainage many of the outlying streets are unpaved, and consequently 
are liable to be full of puddles ; here a system of excellent side gutters of cement has 
been put in, and thus much of the rain-water is rapidly carried off. These are being 
extended and the lie of the land is sufficient to give gradients in most places ; 
naturally some of the older gutters are more or less obstructed in parts by the rubbish, 
and hosts of mosquito larvae are to be found in the retained water ; but on the 
whole they are kept clear, a condition which is aided by the tremendous flushing 
which occurs during a rain shower. The sandy nature of the soil assists greatly in 
the natural destruction of gnat-breeding puddles. 
The rain gutters which take off the water from the roofs requires serious con- 
sideration it the city is to be freed from mosquitoes. They are frequently fixed so as 
to be almost horizontal, well supplied with bends, corners, and dead-ends, so that 
there is every opportunity for retaining water from the constructional point of view ; 
more than this, a walk along the streets will show that many are obstructed with 
growing plants or trees. There is quite an opening for justifiable municipal legisla- 
tion to deal with the necessity of keeping all such gutters free from obstruction. 
Also when they are put up, since they are frequently inaccessible, or only accessible 
with difficulty, they should originally be put up with a considerable gradient, so that 
they will tend to clear themselves out and give no chance of stagnation. Moreover, 
downward pipes should be provided at acute turns. The water gutter is a serious 
question in Para since the almost daily showers in the dry season tends to keep them 
constantly filled with water if there is obstruction. 
Rubbish destruction. In their praiseworthy efforts to improve the sanitation of 
the city, a system of collection and destruction of household rubbish has been instituted 
by the authorities. In the evenings householders deposit the rubbish of the day in 
the gutter opposite their houses, and if these are on the track pursued by the collect- 
ing carts, as the principal streets of the city, it is collected and carried away to the 
furnaces. Recently some new furnaces have been erected, which should be capable 
of doing the work in an economical manner ; unfortunately, however, the nature of 
the rubbish to be destroyed does not seem to have been adequately studied before 
the furnaces were designed, so that on trial they were not found entirely satisfactory. 
In the more outlying districts the rubbish remains and the effluvia are unpleasant. 
The mode of cartage is clumsy, and would be much facilitated by the use of some 
of the tramway tracks and extensions thereof. The sweepings from the stables of the 
tramway company (Compania Urbana) are carried out beyond the city to the grass 
fodder growing district at Sacramento ; in the neighbouring forest are some choice 
spots, where the carcases of dead mules and oxen are dumped from time to time ; 
the latter are to be dealt with by cremation at the destructor furnaces. 
Living bouses. It cannot be said that the general plan of the houses is suited to the 
climate ; even in comparatively good houses there is absence of verandahs and good 
