On sewage and sewage rivers / by Robert Angus Smith.

  • Smith, Robert Angus, 1817-1884.
Date:
1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On sewage and sewage rivers / by Robert Angus Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    VIII.— On Sewage and Seivage Rivers. By Robert Angus Smith, Ph. D., F.C.S, [i?eac? January 23rrf, 1855.] 0 The removal of refuse from a town gains importance as the town increases, rising at last to be a matter of the greatest moment and surrounded with the greatest difficulties. At the same time, if we take only theoretical grounds, we may say that the removal of refuse must become easier as a town increases, because there is an increased combination of indi- viduals to share the trouble and the expense. This method of viewing the matter I believe to be the true one, whatever practice may say as to the difficulties. The modes of remov- ing refuse are many, but they may very readily be reduced to two; 1st, The removal from the place of original location by carts or any other means of overland carriage; 2nd, The removal in tubes or pipes with an abundance of water. The first method is the most general, it is the original method; it may be said to be the universal method, the exceptions to it are so few. This universality does not occur from any supe- riority which it possesses, but from its simplicity, although I probably use that word in a wrong sense; I ought rather to say, from the fact that it arises naturally when the least amount of thought is directed to the subject. The refuse is deposited in the nearest convenient place, and it is removed when it becomes intolerable. This plan has been adopted in all ages and countries with more or less care. From the filthy