THE HEALTH OF THE CITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4169, 29 June 1875, Page 3

THE HEALTH OF THE CITY.

Xo. 111. " DISPOSAL OF SELVAGE. There are few questions of greater importance to colonists than how most effectually and inoffensively to dispose of the sewage of towns and cities. Like many other questions regarding health, it does not receive due attention. A new tax rouses the ire of the populace, because, rightly or wrongly, they lay the blame on the devoted leads of politicians. An increased death rate is, however, quite a different affair. It is owing to the " visitation of God," the sinfulness of the times, the climate—or in fact, to any other cause than the true one— their own ignorance and apathy, singly or combined. One wonders often where to lay the blame—whether on the knack men have of believing that at any rate they will live to a green old age, while they think it nothing strange that others do not; or to the ignorance which prevails regarding the laws wiiich regulate public health—ignorance which is tiulv culpable either on the part of

T.he authorities who regulate education, or on the part of the pubJic generally. It is surely strange that while a boy has to fp nd many years "grinding,;" the rudiments of dead languages—(for how very few are scholars !)-he should be left in total ignorance about himself. It is well enough, no doubt, to know, like the boy who studied Latin seven years, that Julius Caesar killed his mother, and that Brutus killed the tyrant Nero. But how much better to know that there are undeviating laws of health against which no man can rebel with impunity, any more than a courtier could cross the caprice of Nero ! The loves of the gods are, of course, very interesting and edifying to boys ; yet we would ratlur teach them the dangers of license, intoxication, late hours, and close atmospheres, &c. But so it is. '■ Know the classics—be a scholar and a gentleman," says one. "Life is for enjoy, ment," says another. " Make money if thee can," says a thiid. Very good. ;Tis well to know as much about the history of pist ages as we can ; 'tis well to enjoy ourselves within proper bounds ; and 'tis well to make money. Education and money, however, are of little use to him who does not enjoy health. A healthy man actually "enjoys" himself, no matter how employed, if only m some honest calling ; and if reverses overtake him, he can stand against them like a man. We fear that this desirable specimen of humanity is met with among those only who aie the proper workers—a proof that man was made to work. That health is the greatest of all earthly blessings is admitted by all. just as people say that we are all sinful. Having made an admission of this sort, we often show a curious facility for dismissing the subject. Is it not wonderful how often we take refuge in mere words. Sanitarians, it would se. m, must continue to din the public ear if they expect people to move in sanitary matters. Although we do not agree with a great deal of Professor Cough trey's address, that pait of it which advocates lectures on general scientific sul.jtcts we can fully endorse. We wish the Professor's suggestion may be acted upon ; but we more sincerely wish that some gentlen an conversant with the subject, and not averse to using his peu on behalf of the public weal, should write a simple book on | Public Health, <fee, suitable for the senior classes in our public schools. We feel sure that teachers would be glad to see their pupils use it during some pait of the school curriculum, for as a body we never knew th»-m to stand against reform. But to return to our subject, The question as to the best means of disposing of sewage is often difficult of solution, owing, in some instances, to want of a natural outlet, want of a sufficient fall for drains, and want of a copious and constant supply of wattr. One of these conditions constitutes a difficulty by no miaus inconsiderable, but when the three are combined, the water system is out of the question. It would be far too ex-pi-nsive, and could not be efficiently worked. '1 here are three principal methods in use at present, viz :— 1. The water system—discharging into sea or river. 2. Irrigation—a modification of the water system, by which the sewage is directly applied to land prepared for its reception. 3. The dry earth system, in which effete matters are remced in the solid condition, and used as mauure. Opinions are dfvided as to the comparative merits of these methods. Thus, one city adopts No. 1 ; one tries both 1 and 2 ; another No. 3, or Xo. 1 and No. 3, &c. The water-closet system io most in vogue in BritaiD, and it must be admitted that, upon the whole, it is the most convenient one for the householder. It, however, has its serious drawbacks. If the sewers and pipes are not well laid, of unexceptionable quality, it is fraught with danger. It is also very doubtful whether a thin layer of water is sufficient protection against the emanation of foul gases into our dwellings ; and if the water supply fail for a time, there is in most cases absolutely no safeguard against the dangers of the sewer. The pipes sometimes break and contaminate the ground; e>r, if the ground be already charged with foul gases, such as coal gas for instance, the air in the houses communicating with the broken pipe may become very offensive, if not dangeious. Most piople who have lived in large cities know the discomforts to which they are liable in houses where the watercloset apparatus is apt togetoutof order. The water supply may also be poisoned if, as is often thf case, the overflow pipes communicate with sewers. A skilful and conscientious engineer, if he had the laying of the sewers, pipes, &c, as well as the selectiou of the material, might obviate most of these grave objections ; but considering the vast network of drains and pipts required, one cannot help fearing that even in his havds a Haw might creep in here and there. Many sanatarians feel ttrongly on this matter. Dr Fergus, of Glasgow, goes so far as to say, that " the increase of diarrhoeal and diphtherial diseases (in British towns) is owing to the extension of the water-closet system," and that *' the only solution to the difficulty, which he believtd would increase, w;is to prevei t all excretal matter from getting into sewers." I he '" difficulty " is perhaps a little overstated ; but any raid on the question of sewaye by so eminent an authority deserves a fair •hearing. So expensive a method of sewage disposal should insure comfort and safety, lv the last district sewered in Edinburgh an ass< ssment of 2< Gd in the pound was necessary ; yet, in Edinburgh, " skilled labour" is not half so expensive as it is in Duncdin, and material is considerably cheaper. There is one strong argument in favour of sewage irrigation. It is proposed by this means to utilise the vast quantities of valuable manure, which in too many cases is thrown into the sea, or serves to pollute rivers and fill up their beds. The expense of this system is grea'er than that of the water-closet system by the amount nece3oary to prepare the land. This amount in England varies from £10 to £30 per acre. Several cities are now ti yiug irrigation ; many of them have, however, I>ut begun the experiment, and, after all that has biea siid, facts are wanting to prove conclusively tint it is a good method for a large community to adopt. The average amount «.f lanel nquire.l for irrigation is one acre for every 100 inhabitants, and we fully believe that so much is required if irrigation is resorted to as a permanent means «t utilising sewage. Dunediu, as it is, would •lierefure require about 200 acres. So much lan I might be secured ou the Sandhills; out Duiietlin is bound to increase, and, perhaps very soon 100 acres more would be required. It is quite true that at MerthyrTyilvil there are in present use no more than 20 acres, but 21 ;"> acres more are in course of prep iration, This w ill make a total of 235 acres for 40,000 inhabitants, and this amount will prove insufficient if the land is not unusually suitable for irrigation. Irrigation farms are as near several British cities as two or three miles, and iii some cases their coi.tiguity has been prejudicial to public health ; in others, it has not been hvutful, or more properly speaking, has not had time to become so. Irrigated lands are apt to become sodden, in which case no more sewage can be poured on them, and it remains to be proved whether soil so saturated with decomposing organic matter may not some day become a source of danger to the community. In Italy, where irrigation —by means of water simply —has been in use for generations, irrigated lands cannot, by law, be nearer a considerable city than 7.S miles, and a small town requires a distance of J>.G miles. Experience lias taught the Italians a lesson which we may some day have to learn to our cost.