IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE MATTERS, AND THE DEODORIZATION OF NIGHT SOIL
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Young Darracott Scott, of Ealing, in the
County of Middlesex, Major-General, C.B., for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE MATTERS, AND THE
DEODORIZATION OF NIGHT SOIL."
Sealed the 30th September 1873, and dated the 25th April 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Young Darracott
Scott at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 25th April 1873.
I, HENRY YOUNG DARRACOTT SCOTT, of Ealing, in the County of.
Middlesex, Major-General, C.B., do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE MATTERS, AND
THE DEODORIZATION OF NIGHT SOIL," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the utilization of sewage deposits for
the deodorisation of night soil, and the preparation of inoffensive and
innoxious manure therefrom.
In carrying out my Invention instead of converting into charcoal as
heretofore the solid matters deposited from sewage by precipitation

page_text: .
with lime, or lime and clay, I subject them to a temperature only
sufficiently high to decompose their organic matters, and so far scorch or
only partially char them so as to develop in them compounds of a tarry
nature, but not completely to expel such compounds as is done in the
preparation of charcoal. I find that sewage deposits thus treated 5
exercise a remarkable effect in destroying the noxious smell of putrescent
compounds, and that they may be used with great advantage in
deodorizing night soil and rendering it innocuous.
The great advantages of the lime method of precipitation are the
cheapness of the precipitant and the efficiency with which it clarifies 1
the sewage water and deodorises the deposit thrown down, but I may
employ other precipitants such as chloride or sulphate of iron and
alumina in conjunction with the lime, without interfering with the anti-
septic properties of the compound which results from the scorching
process. No corresponding advantages however, so far as these properties
are concerned, are gained by the use of such expensive chemicals.
In using the partially charred sewage deposits I reduce them to a
powder either before or after the heat is applied to them, and I throw
the powder, either by hand or by well-known mechanical contrivances,
into dry closets and cesspools, or the powder may be mixed with the
night soil after.collection from privies, or it may be used in the prepara-
tion of the Goux pail or other similar contrivances.
I sometimes mix with the partially charred and powdered deposit,
lime, chloride of lime, or chlorides of the metallic salts or charcoal, or
other disinfectants or deodorants..
Sometimes, also, I so manage the scorching process as to drive, the
tarry compounds from the portions subjected to the greatest heat over
other portions of the deposit, which thus become impregnated with
hydrocarbons, and have imparted to them similar antiseptic properties
with the partially charred parts of the deposit.
The complete charring of certain portions of the deposit, and the
imperfect action of the heat upon other portions, is comparatively
unimportant. This is one of the great advantages of this mode of
dealing with sewage deposit, for the rude method in which the process
may be carried out without rendering it ineffective makes it specially
applicable to the necessities of small towns.

page_text: The ammoniacal vapours which pass off during the scorching operation
may be collected by well known methods.
During the prevalence of cholera, typhoid fever, and other contagious
diseases, the mixed cesspool and scorched sewage deposit may be dried
and subjected to a temperature sufficiently high to commence charring
as in the case of the deposit alone.
All germs of disease will thus be destroyed, and the resulting com-
pound may be either used for agricultural purposes, or may be reused to
deodorize fresh portions of night soil.
The ammonia and other matters distilled off by the scorching process
may be collected and utilized, and the hydrocarbons which are expelled
(whether in the case of treating sewage deposit only, or sewage deposit
and night soil mixed) may be made by their combustion to assist in the
scorching process.
5 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Young Darracott Scott in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 25th October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
YOUNG DARRACOTT SCOTT, of Ealing, in the County of Middlesex,
Major-General, C.B., send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Henry Young Darracott Scott, Her special
license that I, the said Henry Young Darracott Scott, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Young.
Darracott Scott, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully, might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE MATTERS, AND

page_text: IN THE DEODORIZATION OF NIGHT SOIL," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry Young Darracott Scott, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was 5
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Young Darracott Scott, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner ]
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement (that is to say) :—
The object of this Invention is the utilization of sewage deposits for
the deodorization of night soil, and the preparation of inoffensive and
innocuous manures therefrom.
In carrying out my Invention, instead of converting into charcoal (as
heretofore) the solid matters deposited from sewage by precipitation
with lime, or lime and clay, or lime and iron, or alumina salts, I subject
them in iron cylinders or retorts to a temperature only sufficiently high
to decompose their organic matters, and so far scorch or only partially
char them as to develop in them compounds of a tarry nature, but not
completely to expel such compounds as is done in the preparation of
charcoal. I find that sewage deposits thus treated exercise a remarkable
effect in destroying the noxious smell of putrescent compounds, and that
they may be used with great advantage in deodorizing night soil and
rendering it innocuous.
The great advantages of the lime method of precipitation are the
cheapness of the precipitant and the efficiency with which it clarifies the
sewage water and deodorizes the deposit thrown down, but I may employ
other precipitants, such as chloride or sulphate of iron and alumina
in conjunction with the lime, without interfering with the antiseptic
properties of the compound which results from the scorching process.
In using the partially charred sewage deposits I reduce them to a
powder either before or after the heat is applied to them, and I throw
the powder either by hand or by well known mechanical contrivances
into dry closets and cesspools, or the powder may be mixed with the

page_text: night soil after collection from privies, or it may be used in the prepara-
tion of the Goux pail or other analogous or equivalent contrivance s
I sometimes mix with the partially charred and powdered deposit lime,
chloride of lime, or chlorides of the metallic salts or charcoal, or other
3 disinfectants or deodorants.
Sometimes also I so manage the scorching process as to drive the
tarry compounds from the portions subjected to the greatest heat over
other portions of the deposit, which thus become impregnated with
hydrocarbons, and have imparted to them similar antiseptic properties
with the partially charred parts of the deposit.
The complete charring of certain portions of the deposit and the
imperfect action of the heat upon other portions is comparatively.
unimportant. This is one of the great advantages of this mode of
dealing with sewage deposits for the rude method in which the process
may be carried out without rendering it ineffective makes it specially -
applicable to the necessities of small towns.
The ammoniacal vapours whicli pass off during the scorching operation
may be collected by well-known methods, and may be utilized in any
way for any purpose for which they may be required.
During the prevalence of cholera, typhoid, and other contagious
diseases, the mixed cesspool and scorched sewage deposit may be dried
and subjected to a temperature sufficiently high to commence charring,
as in the case of the deposit alone.
All germs of disease will thus be destroyed and the resulting com-
pound may be either used for agricultural purposes, or may be reused for
deodorizing fresh portions of night soil.
The ammonia and other matters distilled off by the scorching process
may be collected and utilized, and the hydrocarbons which are expelled
(whether in the case of treating sewage deposit only or sewage deposit
and night soil mixed) may be made (by their combustion) to assist in
the scorching process.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in the Treat-
ment of Sewage Matters, and in the Deodorization of Night Soil," and
having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim
as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid,-

page_text: Subjecting sewage deposits to a temperature sufficient to make up or
decompose their organic elements, and develop from them. tarry com-
pounds, as and for the purposes herein set forth.
I also claim the use or employment of the sewage deposits scorched
to this degree for deodorizing and disinfecting night soil and other foecal
matters as herein set forth.
וי
•
Q
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Young Darracott Scott, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand, eight hundred and seventy-
three.