Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-08-10

nanQS cSSaScu 10 Teara IaDTlc OF ctlte. ! nclr
single idea seemed to be to tear away whatever
add whatever they could from the State politics
Of New England
DEODoRIZING In view Of the late action
Of the Board Of Health Of this city upon the
proposition Of Mr. Thomas Sewell for deodor-
izing and disDfecting the night soil, the pub
LEGATION Of the following report OF 4 committee
Of the Board of Health of Washington city,
may not prove Iisadvantageous
Your committee ION the investigation OF
the earth system Of dcordorizing night-soil''
have the honor to report that they have stu
died many authorities on dcodorZers, and
have examined the certificates and the scen-
tifc essays on the subject of the earth dcodoriZ-
ing properties and earth closets and have
come to the conclusion that the earth system
is by far the most superior and the cheapest.
This system is not 4 new one at all, and it
seems strange that with such princi plcs-su-
periorty and chcapness-it has not always been
the method adopted by every people of every
nation on the globe The law Of Moses
imposed upon the lSraclites the duty Of cover
ing the blood Of slaughterhouses with earth.
And in China, that strange country, where
civilization seems to have attained the highest
degree in certain times, and the lowest in Others
they have used earth for disnlectng nlght-,oll
from time mmemorlal.
Rosscr, in 1881, offered earth united with
unsiacked lime, SCOT, powdered gypsum, Nc,
us dsintectant for focal substances, &c,
garbage, &c. In 1858, Rev. W. b. Bowditch,
Of Wakefield, England, recommended to the
agricultural society the Use OF dry-powdered
clay to remove the impurities OF coal gas: house
vessels boxes, &c Almost at the same
time Rev II. Moule, in Dorsetshirc had prac-
ticaly tested the deodorizng power OF earth
on night soil, and from his exposition Of the
fact, the earth-clcSet system became generally
adopted in England and in many parts of onc
country.
The Medical Press Of February l., 1871 says:
''Expcricnce has shown that the quality and
condition of the earth employed in the closets
have much to do with the success OF the pro-
cess, for pure or nearly pure sand haSno dcodor-
izing power and the same is the case with
chalk and other forms Of carbonate nf lime
Peat also. although rather more effective than
sand Or chalk, is not Il good deodorlZcr; where.
as clay, or earth which is rich in clay, IS well
suited for the purpose. The degree Of dryness
it seriously affects the absorbing power OF the
heavy soil, Ike brick earth, which is loaded
with clay, and then drying it by artificial means,
in order that il may hc powdered and Slted,
for the purpose Of utilizing iti absorbent action
to lis fullest extent.
1t is calculated that it required d! lbs. per
head per day to make of the night soil solid,
lnDffeuSlvc compost.
The advantage Of this system is acknowledge
pd i'm ENGLAND 70 be AS follows
l. The carth-coSct. intelligently managed.
furnishes means of disposition OF nlllSanceS
and without dctrlm"nt to health.
- In communities, the carthcloSct system
requires to be managed by the authority OF the
place, and will pay at least the expense of its
management.
>. In the poorer classes of houses. where
supervision of any closet arrangement is indis-
penslble, the adoption of the earth system is
Invaluable
1. 1t is cheaper anu morc salubrious than
the watcr-coset.
). 1t supersedes the water closet. thus say
ing much water for the Use of the city.
e. 1t saves the sail, which is 80 impor-
tant in agriculture, instead OF wasting it,
and used to choke the sewers and fill the at
moSphere with malaria.
In our Investigations we found that the
prepared earth can be supplied to every
household: without the charge of one cent
a box of this earth will be regularly sup
Piled and taken away, charging only the
usual rates which have been allowed by law
without dcodnrzaton.
This system will free our community Of
nuisance dangerous to hcalth-ot nuisance
which has aroused the Indignation Of the peo-
pie until they actually riotcd against it. We:
therefore, earnestly, urge its adoption.
Hon. and Rev. James Wentworth Lei Ugh,
son of the first Lord Leigh and brother Of the
present baron was married recently to Miss
France: Butler, daughter of the late Pierce
Butler, ESD. OF Buffers Island, Georgia. and
Fanny kcnlhc, at St Thomas Church, Lon
don