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14
departure from the present system of discharging the
London sewage by a multitude of outfalls, be decided
upon. It appears to me that the enormous masses of
solid and liquid matters which make up our London
sewage can best be grappled with on the principle of
subdivision, as opposed to that of concentration. If it
be found that we have no resource, but to throw the
sewage unaltered into the river, then its subdivision
into numerous small streams entering the river at
different points through several miles of its course,
affords the greatest facilities for its speedy conversion
into innocuous organic and inorganic forms. If it be
found that the putrifiable elements of sewage can be
profitably extracted or intercepted, then again it seems
probable that subdivision of the sewage will offer the
greatest facilities for the necessary operations. With
regard to the most imperative want, that of getting rid
of the sewage as speedily as possible from our habitations,
there can be little doubt about the advantage of
discharging it by the shortest and most natural outfalls to
the river, over a plan for collecting it in gigantic cloacæ.
I have the honor to be,
Gentlemen,
Your faithful Servant,
ROBERT BARNES, M.D.
13, Devonshire Square, N. E.
20th February, 1858.