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68
the current going direct into the chimney, and ensure
the settlement of any dust and solid particles. Finally
the products of combustion are passed through a muffle
furnace, known as Jones' Fume Cremator, in which
the heat is raised to l,500° Fahrenheit, and thus all
incompletely oxidised solids and gases are effectually
burnt. Even without this additional fume cremator
the results obtained have been satisfactory, and there is
every reasonable presumption that with it, a complete
immunity from nuisance will be obtained.
It has been urged that even supposing the combustion
is complete, poisonous oxides of carbon and sulphur will
be evolved; but it is forgotten that every gas-light and
every fire in Clapham is producing these gases in
abundance, in the latter case unfortunately with the
addition of a large quantity of unburnt soot, very little
above the level of the street, instead of 160 feet high
(as in the proposed destructor chimney).
It is not poisonous gases, the products of combustion,
which from a sanitary standpoint are to be feared;
these are rapidly dissipated and dispersed. It is rather
the micro-organisms which find a fertile soil for their
development during the putrefactive changes undergone
by the animal and vegetable matters in dust-refuse,
that cause sore throat, diphtheria, and other diseases.
These are completely got rid of by the process of burning
: and if combined with this cremation we have more
frequent removal of house-refuse there is little doubt that
great improvement in the health of Clapham will be
secured.
The opposition to the proposed Destructor originates
in two quarters; the householders in the neighbourhood
of the Parish Yard (the proposed site for the