The scavenging of a town and the disposal of the refuse has probably more effect on its sanitary state than anything else; dirty rags, dead grass and other refuse lying about, are ideal homes for germs of disease to live and flourish in, and these, when a shower of rain falls, very frequently get washed into the water-supply. The modern system of cremation in specially constructed incinerators is the only safe method of disposal of town sweepings. Even in England, where the water-supply is, in the majority of cases, not affected, careful observations have proved that there is an increased liability to enteric fever in the localities of refuse heaps. In an Indian bazaar dependent on wells and tanks for its water-supply, anything more barbarously insanitary than the filling up of deep tanks with town refuse is hard to imagine. Deep burial keeps the germs of disease alive, probably for years, in the very stratum the drinking water is frequently taken from. [Sidenote: Dust-bins.] In order to facilitate the collection of refuse, dust-bins are of great use; they should, however, not be so large as to become unwieldy, as it is much more preferable to have numerous small ones conveniently placed, than a few large ones; the simplest shape is a circular one of corrugated iron, open at both ends, provided with a pair of handles, and resting on a brick on edge platform, with a groove therein into which the bin fits, on the same level as the street. When the collecting cart comes round, the bin is lifted, the contents shovelled into the cart, and the bin then replaced; these should be cleared at certain fixed hours, and house-holders ought to be encouraged to have private ones of small size near their doors if space permits. Fig. 19 is an illustration of these bins, and being made of galvanized iron are not liable to rust. They vary in price—for bins 2 feet 9 inches in height and 2 feet in diameter from Rs. 6 each, without angle iron rings at top and bottom, to Rs. 12–8 each with rings. These receptacles should not be placed within 50 feet of any well or tank. [Illustration: FIG. 19.—CORRUGATED DUST OR REFUSE BINS. ] The selection of strong and serviceable refuse carts is also a matter of importance, especially as regards the axles and wheels. Fig. 24, page 48, is an illustration of a cheap but effective type. The cost is Rs. 120 for a cart of 30 cub. ft. capacity, Rs. 150 for 50 cub. ft., and Rs. 200 for 90 cub. ft. All the working parts should be of standard size, duplicates of which can be economically purchased and kept in stock in the event of a breakdown, when they can be easily fitted by unskilled labour. This is important, as few municipalities have good workshops. The axle box in the wheels should invariably be the full width of the hub. A new axle, with axle box and sleeve or jacket to take the wear and tear off the axle, can be made up at a small cost, Fig. 20. In the Patna Municipality this is supplied complete for Rs. 9–2–0.