The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-06-03
Dry Earth, in its Sanitary Applications to
Farm Houses and Village Dwellings.
BY THE RT. REV. HENRY C. LAY, ID, Ii. D.,
BISHOP OF EAsToN.

4 cergymen of the established church in
England, the Rev. Mr.. Moule, was the first
to bring prominently into notice the value
of dry earth, in deprving offensive sub
stances of odor, and facilitating their re-
moval.
In 1860 he secured a patent for an earth
closet to be used within the dwelling. In
this country there are number of differ
ent manufactures Of them, but the princi-
pie in all is substantially the same.
There is large iron bucket placed be-
meath seat. Above is " hopper filled
from time to time with sifued coal ashes or
earth. By pulling handle, or else by
pressure upon the seat, or by some other
automatic adjustment, whenever a visit is
paid to the closet, quantity lsay a pint
and half of the ashes or earth is thrown
down, covering the detection.
The effects of this application, if freely
used, are very remarkable. Every thing is
deodorized. One of my neighbors, who
has such a closet adjoining his chambers,
assures me that he never perceives any
offensive smell whatever. A combination
takes place, so that after awhile every thing
disappears, even bits of papers. Nay, so
inoifensive is the compound, that it may be
dried and sifted, and used over dozen
times.
1t was claimed by Mr.. Moule that the dry
earth would not only deodorize, but disin-
feet as well. Indeed, it seems to stand to
reason, that in absorbing the frtid gases,
the dry earth must detan much, that if
allowed to diffuse itself, would be preiudi-
cial to health. But the authorities to which
| have access, do not assign all the value
claimed by him for the dry earth as an
immediate disinfectant; they seem to agree
that the fermenting germs of disease to
which allusion has been made, are not al
ways destroyed by this contact with dry
earth. But indirectly the dry earth is an
invaluable disinfectant, for, by rendering
the mass absolutely inoffensive, and so easy
to handle, it enables us to remove it at any
time, and dispose OF it where the chemis-
try of vegetation will soon deprive it of all
insalubrious qualities.
In England, the earth closet system has
been used with most satisfactory results in
ials, work houses and schools
The facts connected with the volunteer
encampment, held annually at Wimbledon,
strikingly attest its efficiency. The num-
Der of volunteers on one occasion was ., 300
and the number of visitors "a, 1872. For
some years the nuisance had been serious
In 1863, earth closets were provided, which
were used by many thousands daily. The
Times and the Lancet united to bear testi
mony to the singular absence of annoyance,
notwithstanding the excessive heat which
prevailed. In subsequent years, while the
closets were very successful, some com
| plant was made of the difficulty in main
tanning the system on SO large a scale.
The like testimony comes from India
where the same system has been extern
sively used in jails and hospitals. The
great heat of the climate, and the custom
of the Hindoos of carrying a bottle Of
water, and using it in publication on sucl
occasions, required the earth to be supplied
in large quantities; and to be very freel.
used. Without effective oversight and dis
cipline, the closets could not be kept il
order.
The testimonies are such as these: Dir