St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1870-06-03
VOLUME 33-NUMBER 1714
Earth Closets ana the !SeiCuge
Question.

UUtSttOR.
We have, as our readers are wei
aware, taken strong ground in favor Q
the earth closet as Il substitute for III,
water closet; and have based our opinion
both upon sanitary and economic consid
eratlons. 1t appears to US, however
that the immense Importance of this sub
ject has not seized upon the public mind
and that it fails to be appreciated, cxcep
by such as have given special attention tc
the subject of sewage.
We find this subject fully discussed il
all its bearings in the technical journals
and numerous plans-somc of them of tn,
most impracticabl1 character-are pro
posed but the popular press in thi:
country has been content to drop the sub,
ject after brief discussion. and leave the
matter to whatever issue destiny has re,
served for it.
In our opinion no current topic i,
frcightcd with such import as the queS-
ton of cutting off the enormous drain or
I ierllIIzng matter now permitted to con-
taminate them aud the atmosphere which
sweeps over them.
/ 10 inventors the earth closet system
opens Il wide field for improvement, one
in which few patents have been taken :;
and the success. which will III our opin-
ion ultimately attend the convenience and
comfort secured by inventive skill.
The details of the earth closet system,
as they exist at the present date, have
already been placed before our readers,
but it may not he am>s 10 quote from a
recent article of Prot. Charles \. Soy,
OF Columbia College, the following COM
prehen>ive summary OF its advantages
The disintecting properly of dry earth,
humus, clay, charcoal, peat, bone-black,
ashes, and other solid substances, has
long been known, and all of these bodies
have been applied in one way and anoth-
er for the prevention of bad odUrs. for
the filtration OF wafer and absorption of
gases. The bodies of the dead have.
with most nations, been buried beneath
the soil, and thus all danger likely TO
arise during their decay has been rcmov-
ed.
In the thickly populated REGIONS of the
East, necessity has impellcd the inhabi-
tantS to have recourse to the same prin-
ciple in the disintcctin. OF all tccaI mat
Ter; but in a sparsclv settled country
great carelc~-ness i apt 10 creep in and
10 maintain lis supremacy long after Il
large increase OF population imperatively
demands as much care in the removal OF
all eXcrcmental matter as il does in the
proper disposition of dead bodies
The action of dry earth Is not only
chemical but physical, and consists main
ly in the absorption and removal of the
water necessary to the decay o: organic
substances the formation OF dangerous
gases is thus prevented, and the animal
matter is lett to 4 slow decay (comJu,-
lIOn) and no oduyS can arise
y small amount OF earth is sufficient
to diSjntcct a considerable quantity off
putrld or offensive matter, and for this
reason lis use has been strongly recon-
mended in hospitals in case, OF bad sores
and wounds.
The recent learned researches of Pet
ienkoier on the causes OF tupu> and Chui- |
era have led 10 the conclusion that these |
dangerous diseases prevail in REGIONS
where the water from sewers. ouihouscs, |
slhks etc, approaches near the surface |
In fact, the cholera was traced along the |
and the upper part of the |
same valley would be left untouched, |
while the lower portions were subjected |
10 the ravagcS 0t tine di-ci~c Duriu. Il |
Try season the disease was l,>s likely TO
appear than during a wet. The incon-
iroverIihic conclusi II forced ltscii upon
thc mind oi Pcityukut,r that thcr. was
nothin% more dangerous thrn 10 have the
water near Il dwelling contaminated by
ne diseased iccai cNcrcia ut i.e puuuIa-
ION, and he sought for some remedy for
his startling evil If hc had heard Of
.he epidemic in the National Hotel at
Washington. and of the lever that proved
80 fatal 1T the PittSticIi Seminary. lie
would have had some further contirma-
ion of the accuracy OF tuis theory.
The advantages and Importance of
'arth closets must be apparent to every
me who has followed us thus far in our
lrticle. They require very little archi-
ectural change, and can be put any
where when Il vault Is not already dug
hey are entirely without odor, and pre-
crve in the best way the full agricultural
'alue OF the manure.
Surely, system that will save many
Il
ly, avoid waste of valuable manure, and
; cheap and easy OF application, ought to
re universally substituted for the waste
ul, dangerous, unhealthy custom handed ,
lown to us by our torciathers.- Scientific
inaericdR.
WATER IN LEAD PIPEs.-A short
ime since, the chemist to the New York .
ioard of Health made analytical cxami- ,