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stable-owners, moreover, being at the mercy of the waggoners, the
case is far otherwise, and not unfrequently payment has to be made
to ensure removal, however irregularly.
The nuisance caused by accumulation varies in degree according
to the character of the receptacle in which the manure is stored.
When this is a well-paved and drained enclosure, on the surface of
the mews, consisting of a low curb carrying a moveable iron cage
attached to the stable wall by hooks, air-currents circulating freely
through the refuse, and removal being at once easy and complete,
there is little or no nuisance either in storage, or in transference to
the waggon, or in conveyance through streets. Brick receptacles
above ground are more or less objectionable, for they are seldom
thoroughly cleared out, short straw, &c., being left at the bottom.
Nuisance is least when the floor of such receptacles is on, or
slightly above, the level of the surface of the mews, and provision
is made for allowing moisture to drain away. But when the floor
of the receptacle is below the surface of the mews, and even though
nominal provision has been made for drainage, nuisance is considerable:
rain enters and cannot escape, as the drain gets choked;
the result being that the refuse rots, the receptacle becomes filthy,
and the collector will not incur the defilement attending a perfect
clearance. All of the evils are intensified in a high degree when
the receptacle is entirely underground, being what is called a
"sunken dung-pit," always undrained, and covered with wooden
flaps. The rain enters these pits, and confinement of the organic
matters leads to very rapid putrefaction, the result being that,
after a short detention, serious nuisance arises, to the great discomfort
of persons living in the vicinity. Were these pits cleared
regularly, as required by the regulations, they would still be a cause
of nuisance. Everyone must have observed the "steam" arising
when the contents are disturbed, and been annoyed by its horrible
offensiveness. As a rule, the pits are not properly cleared.
These sunken dung-pits are a nuisance in themselves, and as
the use of them involves a continually recurring nuisance, it should
be prohibited. Entertaining these views, and all the efforts of the