SANITARY NOTES. KHARTOUAI 
73 
half scraped out, went, rollin'' hack to town for another load. It is well-nigh inipossihlo to 
keep these cai'ts clean, and utterly impossible to work them in a sanitary manner. Worse than 
all, the buckets, after being emptied into them, were cleaned on the spot, cleaned (save the 
mark !) with a pot brush and a handful of dry sand. This was going on in Khartoum day in and 
day out, and the surface soil was becoming more and more contaminated. Thanks to the 
powerful sun, even this insanitary state of matters did not seem to be prejudicial to health ; 
hut one maintained that, given a wet summer, its effects would be speedily apparent. Such a 
summer occurred before there had been time to get the new system into working order, and 
the result was an epidemic of dysentery, not very severe perhaps, but sufficiently annoying, 
the cause of considerable distress, and incapacitating a considerable number of people for 
work. 
After carefully considering the condition of things in Khartoum, it was resolved to abolish 
the Crowley cart and to substitute a system whereby the bucket, and its contents, properly 
fitted with an air-tight lid, could be removed and carried to the place of ultimate disposal, its 
place being taken by a clean pail. The dirty bucket could then be thoroughly cleaned at a spot 
well away from the town and returned to take the place of the one in use. .\t the same time it 
was resolved to do away with the old brick latrines, which were built on a very bad principle, 
were unsightly, liable to become flooded, and had, in most cases, fallen into disrepair, so that 
they could not be kept clean. A glance at the map, page 75, and at Figs. 18 and 19, will give an idea 
of the system now in vogue. The type of bucket to be employed was the subject of considerable 
thought. Eventually that used in the enteric outbreak at Lincoln was decided upon, though 
one was a little doubtful as to how the rubber ring, which forms the seal, would stand the 
climate. As these would be wetted every day, it was hoped that they would serve, and this 
has proved to be the case. The buckets have, indeed, proved quite successful from a sanitary 
standpoint. Their only drawback is that, though very stoutly built of galvanised iron, they are 
apt to become damaged. This applies more especially to the spring clips which fasten down the 
lids, while the necessity of piling the buckets on the top of each other on the carts and trollies 
tends to injure the lids. The question of having upper platforms for the top rows was con¬ 
sidered, but it was found cheaper and better to have the buckets repaired by the Sanitary 
Service blacksmith. One other point may be noted — the tendency for rivets to work loose and 
fall out. It is evident that careful inspection is necessary. A special man was appointed to 
supervise the pails and collect any which were damaged. He is fined if such buckets be 
found in use. 
Spare rubber rings should be stored in wet saw'dust. 
With these precautions the buckets answ'er admirably. They are not too heavy, although 
they have a capacity of four gallons, and as they have undergone an eighteen months’ trial we 
know the best and the worst regarilmg them. 
It will be seen that the buckets are collected on special low carts drawn by camels (Fig. 18). 
These animals are better than mules or oxen. They draw a heavier load than the mules, 
are more tractable, and the men understand them better, while they move much more rapidly 
than the slow oxen. 
The carts discharge their loads at special collecting stations. Here the buckets are loaded 
on to trollies, which are drawn along a tramway by mules or camels to the place of ultimate 
disposal. 
The system is now the same both for Khartoum and Khartoum North, and has been in 
vogue since -January, 1907. It was a matter of considerable difficulty initiating the change, 
and I would here take an opportunity of mentioning the good work accomplished liy Mr. John 
Newlove, who was at that time our sole British Sanitary Inspector. Only those who have had 
to deal with the lowest class of native, and have experienced his curious ajititude for doing 
Ftmlini; of 
surface soil 
'I'he new 
method 
Latrine 
buckets, 
new type 
Sanitary 
carts 
'IVollies 
