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6
It will be seen that the general result of experience with the various coke-beds
has been that they increase in efficiency as the duration of their service increases, and
that some considerable period of service is necessary before they exert their maximum
amount of purification of the sewage.
Dr. Houston summarises on pp. 41 to 53 the previous Reports issued by the
Council, and gives on pp. 54 to 78 details of the bacteriological work which he has carried
out since the issue of those Reports.
As regards the general bacteriological aspect of the treatment of London
sewage, Dr. Houston gives a statement of the conclusions at which he has arrived after
two years study of the problem on behalf of the Council (pp. 70 to 71). It will be seen
that Dr. Houston concurs in the advisability of adopting the bacterial method of
treatment of London sewage in place of the chemical treatment, and maintains that
under the conditions existing in the. lower river and at the Outfalls, this system of
treatment would furnish a more satisfactory result. Rut he states that although the
effluent from the bacterial beds would not lead to nuisance in the river, it would be by
no means a satisfactory liquid to introduce into a part of the river which was used for
drinking purposes.