4 
the knowledge of which I am not in possession 
of. 
The idea I set out with was, that if I could, 
by any possibility, plan a thing that would 
require no more attention than the bedroom 
slops, it would be a success if not a source of 
public profit. But the nature of dry earth 
— which, nevertheless, has some very faint 
characteristics of a fluid, for it will find its own 
level, as every little urchin knows who makes 
dust and mud pies — was the obstacle in con- 
structing any machine, for I found it wedged 
itself up tight in the first contrivance I 
attempted, as it had done in Smith’s closet, and 
then stones got in and nearly destroyed the 
whole concern. Observing that when the earth 
or sand flowed through an orifice into a vessel 
or on to a bit of board placed close underneath 
it, only a certain quantity, would run until the 
material found its own level or slope, which 
seemed to be about 3 to 1. Then to propor- 
tion a vessel — a pan or scoop — of the capacity 
required for one operation, which would over- 
turn its contents at the right moment and cut 
off the supply at the same time, was the work 
of a great number of experiments ; but I suc- 
ceeded at last and made the seats by a drop of 
less than two inches work the pan with the 
greatest ease, and nothing disturbed it 
for nearly a fortnight, when in daily 
use by some fifteen or twenty work- 
men, until by some accident a piece of stone, 
about two inches long, one and a half inches 
wide, and nearly an inch thick, got into the 
hopper and broke the temporary wooden 
scoop off its axle. This accident led to the 
adoption of a riddle over the hopper to prevent 
the introduction of such impediments in 
future. I produce a sketch showing the con- 
struction, as the best means of making the mat- 
ter clear. It is so simple that a child can use 
the closet, and is not more trouble to keep in 
order than the wash-hand basin in one’s bed- 
room ; and as to anything unpleasant either to 
the sight or smell, I never found it out, 
although, as before remarked, some fifteen or 
twenty workmen used the closet for some 
days, a labourer supplying a bucket of dry 
earth in the morning and taking the full one 
away, which was which it being difficult to dis- 
tinguish. I shall be pardoned for going into 
such detail on this subject after what I have 
advanced in the former part of this paper as 
to the direful consequences of vitiated air, par- 
ticularly in hot climates. I tad not intended 
to read this paper until the closet just de- 
scribed had been tested in some public institu- 
tion. It is now in the hands of the surgeon of 
the Brisbane . Hospital, for that purpose, who 
promises to give it a fair trial. 
To point out one or two of the practical 
results that might arise, if by any means some 
municipal regulations could be enforced, 
and a rate levied for the general adop- 
tion of the dry earth system, in 
Brisbane. There is little or no drainage 
here — that is, underground drainage — and 
there is not likely to be any for some time to 
come. When any system of drainage is 
carried out the cost will he enormous, say 
roughly half a million of money — (the new 
drainage of London will cost £4,100,000) — for 
North and South Brisbane and Fortitude 
Yalley. Then there would be the evil of 
running the sewerage matter into the tidal 
river, to be sent oscillating back and forward 
until some flood swept it into the Bay. Half a 
million would not take the sewers to the bay. 
The surface drainage from slopsinks, urinals, 
and so forth, having plenty of waste Enoggera 
water to dilute it with now, would not affect 
the river ; but should the contents of cesspools 
or water-closets without drains find their way 
into the street channels, as sometimes happens 
in Melbourne, we must bid gocd-bye to i, 
healthy town before long. Hence, in the first 
place, the adoption of the dry-earth system 
would at once prevent the outlay of an im- 
mense sum of money, not to mention the 
saving it would effect by keeping the people in 
health. Supposing the contractor for the 
town scavenging under such a system were 
required by municipal bye-law to have two 
carts, one with dry loam, the other 
to receive the contents of the closets, 
he could leave a bucket of fresh earth daily as 
he took the other away, which would be little 
more labour than is required of the dustman 
in scores of large towns in Great Britain and in 
America. The price the scavenger would get 
for his load of stuff would be a source of profit, 
if anyone could be found wise enough to apply 
it to a farm, and of that there is no doubt 
whatever. (See an article in the Adelaide 
Observer for an earnest of this.) I believe it is 
now conceded that earth is the best deodorizer, 
and the best disinfectant as well ; hence if it be 
applied in the ready manner indicated, it at 
once nips the evil of bad drainage and bad 
air in the bud by preventing it altogether. 
I have to state, in conclusion, with reference 
to the closet I have had made, that any dry 
material such as loam, dry earth, sand, lime, 
core, ashes, sawdust or sweepings may be used 
with equal advantage as far as deodorizing, or 
even the commercial value of the product is 
concerned; so that there can be no difficulty ex- 
perienced in procuring a supply of suitable 
material, as the housemaid might me the 
hopper as a receptacle for ashes and dust. The 
cost of such a closet would not exceed £3, and 
it cannot be disarranged by use. 
The most recent confirmation of the success 
of the earth-closet system is that of Dr. Faucus, 
at a large gaol at Alipore, near Calcutta, 
which a writer in the 'Builder says “ ought to 
lead to great practical results.” 
Printed at the “ Guardian Office,” Brisbane. 
