The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-10-10

That TINS breaking down action OF
the bacteria means both a physical
and chemical destruction. Coarse
matter becomes finally divided. and
complex chemical substances be-
come changed into many elementary
ones.
After the oxygen In solution
unites with the simplest organic ma
terial, the oxygen in combination
with other elements. such as nit
rates, sulphates. etc. is loosened 20
unite with matters that easily and
leave the liquid. as carbon dioxide
and carbon monoxlde.
When the available oxygen has
been practically eliminated from the
liquid, then the septic or putrld con-
dition exists.
The danger of an overseptic con-
ditien must be warned against
/ Much better is II TO shorten the dl-
costing period rather than prolong
it. In a tank where the bottom de-
posit is constantly washed by the
Incoming sewage and toxic or pot
sonous substances thereby prevent
ed from accumulating a seml-septic
stage is most satisfactory. as a num-
Der of destructive bacteria which re-
quire some oxygen can also labor
here at advantage.
Consequently the scum formed By
the lighter suspended matter rising
to the surface is not necessary TO the
successful septic tank and actually
becomes a source OF trouble by grow.
| ing large enough 10 materially de-
crease the capacity OF the tank.
The ideal condition exists when
the inorganic matter only Is deposit
ed in the bottom of the tank and the
finely divided organic matter Is con-
stantly passing out In the ealuent
Shorter storage periods viii accom-
plish this result and accumulatIne
sediment is thereby reduced 60 a
minimum.
To better understand the changes
undergone by organic matter tn It's
decomposition and the part Ilayed
by bacteria. reference may De made
TO the diagram representing the
cycle" of organic matter
Man and other animals eat food
and convert it into excreta. much
less complex condition Bacteria
eats this excreta a. their food and
make it over into mineral solutions.
Plants feed upon this mineral matter
and thereby build up their own body
tissue, which becomes food for an
finals.
Thus animals, bacteria and plants
mutually assist each other in their
struggle for existence.
If animal life were eliminated
from the earth, bacteria would have
difficult time in finding easily d.
gested food Untouched By man.
horse. earthworm, etc, plant life
would be coarse fare for bacteria.
Eliminating bacterial life would be
fatal. however, as plants are abso-
+! lutely unable to live upon animal
! food or excreta. Their nourishment
must of necessity be in a mineral
form. Now, if we suppose the earth
TO be deprived of all plant life. then
animals would have to live on each
other which would soon result In a
speedy depopulation of animal life
+, beginning with the smaller and
weaker forms.
The septic tank. then, is a de-
structive furnace or disintegrator.
1t demolishes complex organic mat
ter making it into simpler chemical
substances. 1t has a mechanical ae-
ton in converting bulky matter into
finely divided state and partially
into solution. 1t kills out some OF
the disease germs that enter
If successfully operated there
fore, septic tank makes sewage less
obnoxious to look upon. On the
other hand. it intensifies the smell
and has little effect on the germs.
Obviously the septic tank Is not
complete process in itself. II Is.
however. a good preparatory school
It's products are crude and unfinish-
ed but promising. Additional train
ing meets receptive ground and pro-
gress is rapid.
To run a septic effiuent of con-
siderable volume into a small stream
would befoul the stream and enor-
mously increase its bacterial content
Added to a large stream, the efiiueni
would undoubtedly ind sufficient
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