A text-book of elementary military hygiene and sanitation by Keefer Frank R. b. 1865

Author:Keefer, Frank R., b. 1865
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Military hygiene
Publisher: Philadelphia London, W. B. Saunders company
Published: 1918-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

Fig. 33.—Company sink, cross-section, showing pole seat, brush screening, and ditching.

If, for any reason, pit covers cannot be had, crude oil, kerosene, or chlorid of lime, well distributed over the sides and bottoms of sinks, wiU greatly discourage the approach of flies. Ordinary lime—unless freshly slaking and active— is not particularly objectionable to the insects. In the absence of the chemical agents mentioned, a supply of dry, powdered earth, which is a good deodorizer, is maintained.

and a shovel or scoop is provided for handling it. Each soldier is required to cover his discharges at once.

General Considerations. —In some situations a rocky site or high ground water may not permit of deep pits. In such case shallow sinks will do, if the pits are oiled and burned out regularly. Shelter is to be provided by tentage, boards or brush, and privacy ensured by screens of canvas, tree branches, or burlap. Where brush is used for roofing, there is danger of fire when the pit is burned out. Sinks should be filled in when their contents approach within 2 feet of the surface. When a board seat is not available, one must be improvised out of a straight, smooth pole resting on supports of crossed timbers (Fig. 33).

Disposal of Urine. —If men are allowed to urinate directly into the sink, they will soil the seats of a closed pit, or foul the edge of an open one. It is, therefore, highly desirable to make separate provision for the urine. This may be done, (a) by constructing a trough at one end or in rear of the sink and draining into the latter (see Fig. 32). The trough may be made of lumber, galvanized iron, tin from empty cans, tarred paper, or even of muslin stiffened and rendered impervious with paint or tar. It is important to scrub this daily with an old broom (to prevent the deposition of ammoniacal salts) and to keep it well sprinkled with oil. (6) A funnel of tin or tarred paper, about 16 inches diameter at its open end, may be fitted into one end or the back of the seat, at a convenient height, (c) A urinal can may be utilized, and its contents emptied into the pit daily, (d) A device which is suitable for camps of brief

duration only (one or two days), is a shallow trench, about 3 feet long and 1 foot wide, dug at the edge of the sink and sloping rapidly to the latter. The trench is partly filled with straw or brush to prevent spattering, and such materials are raked into the pit and burned regularly. The men using the trench, bestride it. Petroleum is used to keep the trench sweet and free from flies.

Urinal Cans.—Men awakened from sleep at night by a desire to urinate will simply step outside their tents to re-Ueve themselves upon the ground, unless it is made easy for them to be cleanly in this respect. Urinal cans or tubs should, therefore, be placed in the company streets at dusk, set up at a convenient height, and their location marked by lanterns.

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