l^atrines, 
private ami 
jHihlic 
7R SANITATJY NOTES. KH.\BTOI-M 
save water supply, vaccination and those services, such as sti-eet cleansin':; and watering;, 
which are not as a rule administered l)y the i\Iedical Oflicer of Health, then I submit that the 
outlay has not been excessive but the reverse. Nowhere can sanitary measures be made to 
pay a profit in hard cash, least of all in the remote Sudan, in towns inhabited chiefly by 
natives and where the cost of transport of material from either Ej'ypt or England is very high. 
One cannot here go into all the details of expenditure, but. wages, whicb are high in 
Kbartoum, constitute tbe principal item, and there are included the salaries of the sanitary 
stall. Against these figures must be placed those of increase of population and the statistics 
dealing with the prevalence of infectious disease. In the Tropics, even more than elsewhere, 
health spells money, and it is to be remembered that in the old days Khartoum was a 
notoriously unhealthy spot. 
It is always difficult to obtain money for sanitation, but in the past it has been granted in 
a fairly liberal manner. It is hoped that in future the claims of the public health will receive 
an equal, or even greater, share of attention by those responsible for the distribution of funds. 
The Sanitary Service sujrplies one Inicket free to each private latrine, the tenant or occupier 
has to purchase the other. In the very poor parts of the town both buckets are supplied free 
when considered necessary. 
(2) The system depends on human labour — on native labour -and this is certainly a draw¬ 
back. At any moment conditions may arise which may seriously interfere with its working, 
such as war, pestilence, or even strikes, which are not unknown in Khartoum. Again, native 
labour is never first-class, but its faults can be combated by efficient inspection. For instance, 
this is recpiired to prevent the cleaner emptying the contents of one bucket into another and 
thus saving himself trouble and lightening his cart-load. There are now three trained and 
certificated British Sanitary Inspectors, but a fourth is required. 
(3) By general consent a water-carriage system properly conducted is the best, for there 
are more opportunities for the spread of disease wdth a l)ucket system, however well it may be 
managed. At the same time, owing to its position and surroundings, only a Shone and Ault or 
Liernur system would serve Khartoum, and its installation would cost about £250,000. The 
engineering work would have to be of a high order, and an ample water supply would be a 
necessity. Neither of these desiderata are available at present. 
I believe the present system will serve the town for from seven to ten years, unless indeed 
the latter undergoes such rapid extension as to prevent us coping with its increase. The 
bucket system has this disadvantage, that it cannot be extended lieyond certain limits without 
undue expenditru'e as regards upkeep. 
(4) This system provides only for the disposal of sewage. A water-carriage system 
could Ire made to provide for the removal of waste and storm waters as well. 
A word or two regarding the latrines. Sanitary by-laws secure that private latrines 
shall he of proper construction, with cement floor's and bucket doors opeiring orr a lane or 
street so that the brrekets carr Ire easily collected. Sotrre of the latrines in the old horrses, 
and, sad to say, irr certain of the Government horrses, do not fulfil this latter condition, but 
slow progress is being trrade irr getting these faults remedied. Nearly every house irr the town 
now possesses a private latrine, and the plans of all new horrses have to be approved by the 
Medical Officer of Health. The type of public latrine is shown in the plans (Fig. 21). 
They are of a good pattern, though no doubt they might be somewhat improved. The cerrrent 
floor is a weak spot, for good cemerrt work carrnot be obtairred, and the “skin ” soon cracks, 
hirt in Khartounr it is rrot possible to obtairr a cheap arrd reliable substitute, as has been dorre 
irr Burnra {vide infrd). These latrirres are rrot very expensive, are easily erected, allow of 
a fine sweep of air through them, are readily cleaned and do not offend the public rights. The 
walls and roof are of painted corrrrgated irorr, the seats of earthenware glazed sarritary slabs. 
