THE VON IPODEWILS’ 
FAECAL AND CREMATION 
COMPANY. THE 
WAYS AND MEANS 
OF 
RELIEVING CITIES 
OF 
SEWERAGE. 
MbBride & Fry, Printers, 26 & 28 Vesey Street, 
NEW YORK: 
1884. PODEWILS’ FAECAL EXTRACT M’F’G CO. 
Munich, Germany, July 1884. 
(Translated from the German in the Chemical Gazette 
of Coethen.) 
“ Through the appearance of the cholera in the 
South of France, the important question as to 
the best method of collecting and disposing of the 
faecal matter is again one of the leading topics of 
the day. The great cholera expert, Dr. Koch, 
has conclusively demonstrated in his investiga- 
tions that the principal seat of the cliolera-bacil- 
lis is in the intestines, and therefore the excre- 
ment becomes the medium of further propagat- 
ing the disease. 
It may be of interest to learn the manner in 
which the sewerage is collected and utilized in vari- 
ous German cities, even though they be sur- 
rounded by water. The method as used at 
Munich, Germany, is carried on by means of an 
air-tight vault system built of solid masonry. 
These vaults collect the sewerage from the sur- 
rounding squares, which is removed at a period 
of six months, and they are constructed so as to 
permit only the pure strained water to enter the 
rivers and canals. This system would be safe 4 
and secure were the vaults kept air and 
water-tight, and the sewerage not permitted to 
remain therein for so long a time. 
The production of fcecal matter, excrement and 
urine, according to the most reliable hygienists, 
is from 920 to 960 lbs. per capita, or about one- 
half cubic yard annually. With a population of 
of about 230,000 Munich would have an annual 
acquisition of 115,000 cubic yards of this faecal 
matter. 
According to statistics, the exported fcecal matter 
scarcely exceeds one-half of that which is created, 
consequently only 50 per cent, of the matter 
is carried off, and of this half, only the smalle1’ 
portion is disposed of as a fertilizer. From 
July, 1883, to that month of the present year 
22,291 cubic yards were shipped to various points* 
which at the outside does not represent more 
than 11,000 cubic yards of fcecal matter. 
The direct delivery to farmers in the neighbor- 
hood scarcely amounts to 26,000 cubic yards, 
which equals 18,000 cubic yards ; on this basis, 
only 25 per cent, at the outside is disposed of as 
a fertilizer. 
The question, where the balance of the pro- 
duced fcecal matter goes, which is not carried off, 
is easily answered : The vaults are not, in many 
cases, water-tight, and it is quite difficult to dis- 
cover leaks in large vaults. It is also perhaps 
desirable to house-owners, who, on account of 
the expense of getting rid of the contents of their 5 
sinks, allow some of it to be absorbed in tlie soil. 
By far the larger part therefore of the faecal 
matter, which is not carried away, enters without 
the knowledge of the authorities into the canals 
and creeks of the city. That a change for the 
better in this respect is possible has been practi- 
cally demonstrated. In Stuttgart, a perfect system 
of vaults has been properly constructed, into 
which small privy-vaults empty at frequent in- 
tervals. 
This system is in use for about 100,000 in- 
habitants and 50,000 cubic yards of faecal matter 
are removed annually, which contain according 
to proof, over 90 per cent, of accumulated faecal 
matter, therefore 10 per cent, of it disappears in 
the soil, canals and rivers, It would be a mis' 
take to maintain that such a system could, 
without further difficulty, be introduced into 
Munich. However desirable it might appear to 
insure a more cleanly condition of things, no city 
has taken the matter of removal of the faecal 
matter into consideration without experiencing 
that the greatest difficulty in cleaning the city is 
not a question of removing the excrement, but the final 
disposal of it. 
Cities are dependent upon the regular removal of 
the crude material for farming, industry, and 
thus can only utilize it at stated seasons. Even 
when extensive land-owners bind themselves 
to receive the same regularly, and it is sent 
as freight, still the entire accumulation of Mun- 6 
icli—400 cubic yards per working day—could 
.not be regularly removed or disposed of. 
Tbe experience of even smaller cities teaches 
that unfavorable weather, such as heavy rains 
or heavy snow-storms, render driving to the fields 
impossible, causing much inconvenience where 
the regular removal in this manner is con- 
tracted for. But what would then happen in event 
of an epidemic ? The shipping as rail road freight 
must be prohibited, which would leave nothing 
for such cities, but to suffer the deplorable 
consequences of finally allowing die accumulated 
matter to run into the public water-courses. In- 
stead of the ‘■'English ” soaking system, the “ Wild ” 
soaking system would be brought into practice, 
by which the matter, instead of going directly to 
the water from the sinks, would first be carried 
about. 
To a careful observer of this question, it will 
be interesting to compare the articles in the 
papers of two years ago, entitled ; “The Voice of 
the People,” with the present one. At that time 
the City Magistrate was willing to regulate the 
removal of the material and to divide the work 
by districts. Numerous protests followed against 
this monopoly which was to be imposed upon 
the public charter. Now, since the appearance 
of cholera in Southern France, the communica- 
tions take quite another form. People wonder 
that the authorities have not long since regulated 
the matter, and that the existing condition of af- 7 
fairs has not been changed to one more 
worthy. If the cholera makes greater ad- 
vances and a learned authority should declare 
that the immediate removal of the fresh faecal 
matter, (and the delivery of the same to the 
farmers to be used at once for fertilizing,) to he the 
very best means to guard against it, there would 
be no objection too great for the people ! But 
what would the farmers say ? They would de- 
cline with indignation the infected material so 
freely offered them. It is plain to he seen that the 
opposing factions are not to be reconciled with- 
out introducing a new factor as connecting link. 
The active element between the interests of the 
city’s inhabitants and the farmers is an industry. 
When the faecal matter has been changed into a 
marketable merchandise both sides are assisted. 
What is demanded is, a system of preparation which is 
technically and exhaustively worked out, so that the factory 
can be carried on in or near the city and at all seasons; 
a system through which all the germs of disease contained 
in the faecal matter are rendered positively harmless, the 
material itself made perfect, no longer injurious to health, 
and changed into a valuable fertilizing powder, so fine 
that it may be strewn. 
The product of such a factory is not 
dependent upon the time of year nor upon the 
farms in the vicinity of the city ; it can if neces- 
sary be kept any length of time, or sent any dis- 
tance as freight. The objection that the produc- 
tions of such a factory would not find a ready 8 
market falls to the ground and shows an entire 
ignorance of its value. 
In Germany alone the yearly trade in expensive 
pulverized fertilizers exceeds twenty-five millions 
of dollars, and the annual import into the Empire 
from foreign countries amounts to more 
than twenty-one millions of dollars, while the con* 
sumption is steadily on the increase. It is also 
noteworthy that the guano deposits of South America, 
so rich with nitrogen, are gradually diminishing, and 
the substitute for this organic nitrogenous fertilizer 
is only to be found in the fcecal deposits of cities. 
But if all the larger and more important cities of 
Germany had these factories in operation, the 
annual production would not equal the sum of money 
which goes out of the country every year for foreign fer- 
tilizers. 
Another equally important fact in this connec- 
tion is the profitable manufacture of this fcecal 
matter. It is often, and from various quarters 
asserted with unconcealed satisfaction, that 
several experiments to this end have failed, but 
nothing for or against this subject is proved by 
such statements. In the first place, not nearly as 
many extensive experiments as are said to have 
been made, have practically been tried. Since 
such undertakings could only be projected with 
the co-operation of the city authorities, and with 
the knowledge of all who were interested in it, 
the reports of such experiments did not give the 
required satisfaction. 9 
In proportion to the experiments made in other 
branches of manufacture, in sugar and dye fac- 
tories for instance, the number is insignificant. 
Again, crude methods and ill-constructed appar- 
atus were used as a basis. Insufficient prepara- 
tory experiments on the physical and chemical 
contents of the faecal matter led to false construc- 
tions or caused a waste of fertilizing material; and 
also many substances were used which destroyed 
the efficiency of the fertilizer. The true and 
principal cause of the failure of the former poud- 
rette factories lies in the want of individual per- 
severance and pecuniary means. 
In view of the condition of the faecal matter, a 
great deal of courage and perseverance is necessary 
in order to experiment with it for years on a 
large scale. Besides, the question : why no former 
poudrette method amounted to anything, has no in- 
terest for any but specialists in this branch of 
industry. In the course of events, their history 
has become antiquated, while through our factory 
in Augsburgh, the manipulation of the faecal mat- 
ter and the city cleaning question depending 
thereon have become an accomplished measure. 
The uninterrupted and remunerative running of this 
factory proves that once established with the proper 
fundamental principle of the operation it was only 
necessary to continue with the experiments until all the 
technical difficulties were overcome. 
Our Augsburg Faecal Extract Manufactory, 
which is situated within the city limits and in the 10 
neighborhood of other factories, treats the faecal 
matter m the following manner: The mass is 
partially brought to the factory from the houses 
at intervals of from 8 to 14 days in air-tight 
barrels or casks, and partially at longer intervals 
drawn from the vaults by suction in the ordinary 
casks. Immediately upon reaching the factory it 
is mixed with sulphur, and the gases which are 
caused by this manipulation are burned under 
the grate of a smoke-consuming steam boiler. 
The f;ecal matter, thus treated with sulphur and 
heat, is then subjected to a steaming and drying- 
out process for several hours at a temperature of 
over 120° Celsius. It is the unanimous opinion 
of the leading hygienists that such a degree of 
heat is the surest and obviously the most thor- 
ough disinfectant. The germs of disease are 
thus completely disorganized, and Dr. Koch has 
recently declared the treatment with acid to be 
the best method of rendering infected matter 
harmless. The faecal matter does not again 
leave the apparatus until it appears in the form 
of a valuable pulverized fertilizer The vapors 
which are formed during the steaming process 
are condensed, and How out mixed with twelve 
times the quantity of spring water. All the 
gases which are not condensable, (relatively a 
very insignificant quantity) are consumed under 
the grate of the boiler. The material prepared 
in this manner has not only the advantage of 
disposing of all doubts as to its being prejudicial 11 
to health, but it has also a high value as a fertil- 
izer. 
The valuable properties of the crude material 
in the fcecal matter are preserved and are found in 
the pulverized fertilizer, and during the whole 
process nothing is lost but the dear water which 
runs to waste, and that has no value whatever. 
Notwithstanding the short time since this factory has 
been in operation, the business has already assumed 
great dimensions, and the Augsburgh production is 
partly shipped to the neighborhood and partly to distant 
places—to Switzerland and the Rhine. When it is 
taken into consideration, further, that the Augs- 
burgh factory is comparatively a small one, treat- 
ing the fcecal matter of only about 25,000 inhabit- 
ants, and that it was not thoroughly established 
or perfected through experience, but through a 
a long succession of experiments that it exists 
at all, it nevertheless works and pays with com- 
mendable regularity. 
It is plain to see that the fitting up of larger 
factories which could be more cheaply done 
under existing circumstances, would undoubtedly 
produce a sure and good revenue ; and the erec- 
tion of such factories should be in proportion to 
their importance and working power and not 
expensive. 
It requires after the foregoing description no 
further explanation of the fact that cities, 
through the regular business in the raw material, 
are relieved from all eventualities, and without 12 
the troublesome considerations of seasons or epi- 
demics, can fully dispose of their faecal matter. 
There is, however, another difficulty to be con- 
sidered, which, in point of importance to the 
national, economical and sanitary questions, is 
not to be undervalued ; the regular treating of 
faecal matter is the only positive method of secur- 
ing the perfect riddance of it. Cases similar to 
that of Munich, and many other places, where 
the quantity removed apparently contains the 
whole deposit, but which in reality is not 
more than half of the material actually produced, 
are through the existence of such a factory 
utterly impossible ; the known quantity of the 
faecal powder and the chemical analysis of the kali 
and phosphate gives with perfect accuracy 
the quantity of faecal stuff which has been re- 
moved. 
When the result obtained is taken as a basis 
and at the same time the nitrogen and ammonia 
in the fertilizer produced agrees, it is then easily 
determined in what degree of decomposition 
the faecal deposits are. This is a further advan- 
tage of great importance ! The faecal matter de- 
cays, very soon after its deposition, and 
liberates sharp smelling ammonia and other 
gases formed during decomposition, which pol- 
lute the air of houses; while the foul odor from 
the faecal matter lying in houses is highly injurious 
to health, the situation is a little more serious- 
since when the fungi of decomposition are de- veloped, the germs of disease find their nourish- 
ment. On the other hand it is to the financial 
interest of the manufacturer to receive the ma- 
terial if possible before decomposition has set in 
as in that case the least possible quantity of 
ammonia will have evaporated. 
The factory must therefore do what it can 
either to secure the fcecal matter as soon as possible 
after its deposition, or hinder decomposition 
while it is lying in the vaults, and in Augs- 
burgh the preparatory steps are being taken 
towards disinfection in the privy-vaults them- 
selves, through the process going on in the 
factory. Such an organization, by which the 
financial interests of the manufacturer and the 
sanitary interests of the house-owners, go hand 
in hand, leads much more surely to the desired 
end, than when the disinfection is imposed upon 
the house-owners. While one foolishly pours 
carbolic acid in the sink, another thinks it suffi- 
cient to moisten the waste-pipes here and there, 
and a third does nothing at all. But from a 
factory where the regular carrying out of the 
disinfecting process is already there, and this 
process is carried on in such a way that not only 
is the faecal matter rendered odorless for the house, 
but the disagreeable smell of the disinfectants 
themselves is done away with. 
It would take us far from the matter in hand 
were we to dwell more exhaustively upon this 
point; attention need only be drawn to this 14 
one; although hygienists differ as to how far 
the germs of disease may he rendered harm- 
less by disinfection. One thing at any rate is 
positive, that the germs may be arrested in their 
development by properly managed disinfection ; 
and this is thoroughly the case when a common- 
sense removal and treatment of the faecal matter is 
made use of. So the cholera and other contagi- 
ous diseases first become dangerous by means of 
excrement. If we can succeed through disinfec- 
tion in arresting this dangerous development, till 
the material reaches the factory, the germs of 
disease through the high degree of heat would 
then forever be removed. By this medium, the 
manufacturer can thus reconcile the conflicting 
interests of house-owners and cultivate the soil. 
The faecal matter can then be regularly and com- 
pletely removed, treated on a sanitary principle, 
and even during violent epidemics, rendered 
harmless. The farmer will receive from the 
same an excellent and transportable fertilizer, 
and whereas now Germany annually expends 
millions of dollars in foreign countries for the 
manufactured fertilizer, these sums will be 
kept within the country and many workmen will 
find employment in the factories.” THE YON PODEWILS’ FAECAL AND 
CREMATION COMPANY. 
No. Ill Liberty Street, (Rooms 1 & 2.) 
New York, September, 1884. 
We deem it our duty to publish the above, the 
many suggestions which have been made from 
all sides inducing us to come forward with the 
result of our experience, and also with our per- 
sonal knowledge of the subject. We have no 
desire to create any anxiety by our description of 
the state of matters here, but it is of great impor- 
tance to bring the same before the public, to 
avoid large and unnecessary expenses in con- 
structing a pumping and sewer system to rid 
their place of the fsecal matter, while a practical 
and well tried system has already been proven 
successful, from which we can, at a small outlay, 
have the benefit of long tedious experiments 
which have cost large sums of money. 
Thus, we have shown the only method by 
which this end can be accomplished, though 
not perhaps immediately, may be the case in the 
near future, and relieve the authorities and 
citizens from prevalent helplessness, through 
the disposal of this faecal matter. 
This Company is now prepared to negotiate 
with Sanitary Boards, Municipal Corporations, 
or Business Syndicates for the introduction of 
the Yon Podewils’ system, in any part of the 
United States. 
Respectfully submitted, 
VON podewils’ faecal and CREMATION CO.