640 
Coitnrie Sanitation. 
Figure 5 shows a plan for a privy-midden according to the 
following Model Bye-laws of the Local Grovernment Board.* 
Every person who shall construct a privy in connection with a building 
shall construct such privy at a distance of si.v feet at the least from a, dwelling- 
house or public building. 
[This distance is a minimum for towns ; in the country a much greater 
distance could generally be obtained and would be desirable.] . . . 
So as to afford ready means of access for cleansing without the filth 
being carried through any dwelling-house or public building. . . . 
Shall provide such privy with a sufficient opening for ventilation. , . . 
Shall cause the floor to he flagged or paved with non-absorbent material, 
and construct such floor not less than six inches above the surface of the 
ground adjoining. . . . 
If in combination with a movable receptacle [such as a pail], shall 
construct over the whole area of the space beneath the seat a flagged or 
asphalted floor, not less than three inches above the level of the ground 
adjoining, and shall construct the wall between this floor and the seat 
of flagging, slate, or brickwork at least nine inches thick, and rendered in 
cement or asphalted. . . . 
lie shall construct it so as to admit of a movable receptacle of a capacity 
not exceeding two cubic feet being fitted beneath the seat, so as to prevent 
the deposit of any filth elsewhere than in the receptacle. 
Every person who shall construct a privy in combination with a fixed 
receptacle for filth [a privy-midden], shall fix in connection with such privy 
suitable means for the effectual application of ashes, dust, or dry refuse to 
any filth deposited in such receptacle. . . . 
So that the contents of the receptacle are not exposed to any rainfall or 
drainage. 
The bye-laws also direct that the receptacle must be non- 
absorbent, have a bottom 3 inches above the ground adjoining, 
and not communicate with any drain. 
With the privy-midden or pail-closet it is of great advantage 
to use dry earth, converting it in fact into an earth-closet. 
The earth is taken from any gai’den or field, well-dried 
beside the fire, and placed in a box in the privy. With a 
trowel or scoop about two pounds are thrown into the privy by 
every person using it. This soaks up all liquid and acts as a 
deodoriser. Crushed peat, sawdust, and ashes are also used for 
this purpose. Ashes, however, do not absorb liquids. 
A better arrangement is to have the two things distinct — an 
earth-closet and an ashpit. The earth-closet may be formed as 
above with a very much smaller receptacle or with a pail under 
the seat. As to the ashpit, the same general rules would apply 
as to a privy. 
Pail-closets are excellent arrangements in the countiy. The 
' For the full code of these bye-haws see Knight's Annotated Model Bye~ 
laws of the Local Government Board, published by Knight & Co., 90 Fleet 
.street, E.C., at 10s.[6<f. The bye-laws by themselves can be obtained of the same 
firm at prices ranging from 2rf. to M. for each series. 
