78 
whence it was taken, and for this purpose should in all cases 
be placed at a moderate depth beneath a soil bearing a 
vegetable growth. In considering, secondly, what should be 
done with the sewage proper, it must be observed that the 
large quantity of water mixed with it prevented its being 
used effectively for agricultural purposes. By the lime, and 
other processes of precipitation, not more than one-third 
of the fertilizing constituents could be separated. It was 
obvious, therefore, that the sewage should be dealt with before 
it became diluted with rain and other comparatively clean 
water. Consequently there appeared to be no alternative but 
the adoption of an improved system of cesspool drainage. 
The Author would divide a town into districts, each contain- 
ing about fifty houses or four hundred inhabitants. Each 
district to possess a cesspool, situated if possible in the centre 
of the street. Drains at great inclination, and in connexion 
with the water-closet pipes, to discharge themselves into it. 
He would place a force-pump permanently in each cesspool, 
along with an agitator to operate by revolving on its axis. 
Tanks, suited to hold the contents of two or more cesspools, 
to be provided, into which the sewage collected during the 
day should be pumped every night, when a portion of 
Mc’Dougall and Smith’s disinfecting powder might be 
introduced. The tanks to be then conveyed by railway, and 
their contents thrown into reservoirs placed in suitable 
localities. It would be convenient to employ a traction 
engine to draw the tank, which might also be employed for 
pumping and working the agitator. In some cases it might 
be useful to prevent gritty matter coming in contact with the 
piston or plunger. This could be readily eflfected by placing 
an elastic diaphragm in an expanded chamber beneath the 
piston. A filter placed above the diaphragm would prevent 
any but clear water coming in immediate contact with the 
piston. The advantages claimed by the Author for the 
proposed plan were — 1st. hlasy construction and repair; 
