The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-05-18
Earth Closets aud the Sewage Ques-
ton

We have, as our readers are well aware,
taken strong ground in favor of the earth
closet as a substitute for the water closet
and have based our opinion both upon
| sanitary and economic considerations. 1t
appears to US, however, that the immense
importance of this subject has not seized
upon the public mind, and that it fails to
be appreciated, except by such as have
given special attention to the subject of
the disposal of sewage.
We find this subject fully discussed in
all its bearings in the technical journals,
and numerous plans-some of them of the
most impracticable charaeter-are propo-
sed, but the popular press IN this country
has been content to drop the subject after
brief discussion. and leave the matter
to whatever issue destiny has reserved
| for it.
In our opinion no current topic is
| freighted with such import as the quos-
tion of cutting off the enormous drain of
| fertilizing matter now permitted to wash
away into the sea, and the publication of
| the waters, which surround large cities,
from the pollutions which are now per-
mItted to contaminate them and the at
mosphere which sweeps over them.
To inventors the earth closet system
opens wide field for improvement, one
in which few patents have been taken,
and the success, which will, in our opin-
ion, ultimately attend the disposal of
sewage in this way will depend much upon
the convenience and comfort secured by
| inventive skill
The details Of the earth closet system,
as they exist at the present date, have
been already placed before our readers,
but it may not be amiss to quote from
recent article of Prof Charles A joy, of
Columbia College the following compre-
hensive summary ofits advantages:
The disinfecting property of dry earth,
humus, clay, charcoal, peat, bone-blsck
ashes, and ether sohd substances, has
! long been known, and all of these bodies
have been applied in one way and another
for the prevention of bad odors, for the
filtration of water and absorption of gas
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 removed.
In the thickly populated regions of the
east, necessity has impelled the inhabit-
ants to have recourse to the same princi-
pie in the disinfecting of fecal matter but
IN sparsely settled country great care
lessness Is apt to creep in and to maintain
its supremacy, long after large lncHease
of population imperatively demands as
much care in the removal of all excremen-
. tai matter as it does in the proper dispo-
sition of dead bodies.
The action of dry earth is net only
chemical but physical, and consists main
: ly in the absorption and removal of the
water necessary to the decay Of organic
substances, the formation of dangerous
gasses is thus prevented, and the animal
matter is left to a slow decay combustion
2 and no odors can arise
r A small amount of earth is sufficient Il
disinfect considerable quantity of putriC
=. or offensive matter, and for this reason
/. its use has been strongly recommended il
T hospitals in cases of bad sores and wounds
i The recent learned researches of Pet
;, tenkofer on the causes of typus and chol
t era have led to the conclusion that thes
: dangerous diseases prevail in region
5 where the water from sewers, out houses
u sinks, etc, approaches near the surface
S In fact, the cholera was traced along tn
) water courses, and the upper part of tn
n same valley would be left untouched
/ while the lower portions were subJecte
= to the ravages of the disease. During
n dry season the disease was less likely t
n appear than during q wet The incontrc
e vertible conclusion forced itself upon tn
h mind of Pettenkofer that there was notf
Of ing more dangerous than to have the Wa
N ter near dwelling contaminated by tt
n diseased fecal excreta of the population
e. and he sought for some remedy for tn
of startling evil. If he had heard of the el
It, idemic IN the National Hotel at Washing
ton, and the fever that proved so fatal
ne Pittsfeld Seminary, he would had son
g, further confirmation of the accuracy
ne this theory.
to The advantages and Importance of ear
IS closets must be apparent to every Of
Ye who has followed US thus far.in our ar
n cle They require very little architect
ms raj change, and can be put anywhe
We when a vault is not already dug, they a
n entirely without odor, and preserve in t
IN best way the full agricultural value of t
I'M manure.
Surely, system that will save ma
lives, keep up the good health of the fal
lily, avoid waste of valuable manure, a
ry is cheap and easy of application, ought
ch universally substituted for the wastef
he dangerous, unhealthy custom hand
zee down to us by our forefathers.