so 
SANITAKY NOTKS. KHARTOUM 
Incineralors 
for excreta 
Comparison 
with Hurmese 
methods 
The closed metal tank has not yet had a fair trial, and it is evident that the results will 
have to be controlled and tested by chemical and bacteriological analyses. In any case, the 
scheme is likely to furnish useful information against the day when a w'ater-carriage system 
and proper biological tanks are in existence. 
At Khartoum North trenching alone is in vogue. The soil here, a good sandy loam, is 
very suitable, and the quantity of sewage to he dealt with is much smaller. The trenches are 
now not in the best position, though at the time the laud was chosen no fault could be found 
with it. The extension of the town, however, necessitated by the important work on the Nile 
Bridge, has altered matters. It is hoped to carry the tramway system further out into the 
desert. At the same time, beyond occasional nuisance caused by unpleasant odours Ijorne by 
the north winds, these trenches have not caused any trouble or illness, so far as can be 
ascertained. Though both towns are now' well served by public latrines, it has been found 
impossible to prevent the native easing himself wherever and whenever possible. He takes 
advantage of the least bit of cover, and the nuisance is specially prevalent after darkness has 
set in. Ajjart from the breeding facilities afforded to flies by the scattered masses of human 
excrement, the river bed at low' Nile gets badly fouled, and though during the dry season little 
danger is to be apprehended, the outlook is different with a rapidly rising river and with the 
advent of rain. Moi'eover, at Khartoum North the increase of the native population has been 
so great that one cannot hope to meet its requirements by going on building lai'ge latrines. 
The people live in huts and tukls, and though they keep their villages wonderfully clean, the 
surrounding desert soon becomes an insanitai’y area. It was evident that the only way to cope 
with this state of things was to erect small incinerators. 
The type adopted is shown in the plan. Pig. 20, and is a modification of that recommended 
by Morris.‘ Sweepers are employed to clean the ground. The material, it necessary, is dried 
in the sun, and is then burned, a little oil being used as fuel. So far only two incinerators 
have been erected, one at Khartoum and one at Khartoum North. They have been found to 
act well, to cause no nuisance, and they are cheap. 
It is hoped to increase their number next year. I understand that the Sudan Medical 
Department intends to follow suit, and to deal w'ith the excreta from the long line of native 
villages to the south of Khartoum on this principle. This w'ill certainly prove an advantage, 
as during the haboub season the insanitary condition of the ground near these “ daims,” as 
they are called, was, I think, a source of danger to the town. It is in India that this system 
has been chiefly advocated and adopted. 
Hamilton '■* deals with the use of small incinerators for cantonments, and their form has 
been elaborated by Haines,^ who introduced the boilers for urine, and who states that the 
secret of avoiding smell is to have a good filtering layer of rubbish on the top of the material 
to be consumed.■* 
The pail system is admittedly on the plan adopted long ago at Singapore and elsewhere. 
Last year several interesting papers appeared on this subject, and we specially note those 
from Burma, where it is termed the “ Bassein ” system. There are some points of comparison 
between the Burmese and Khartoum methods which call for notice. Entrican describes 
his district conservancy in detail. The buckets have a lid of this shape ^ which 
is pushed down inside the pail and seals it effectually. I fear the raised edge would speedily 
' Morris, W. A.. (October, 1907), " Incinerators in Cantonments.” Indian Medical Gazette. 
■ Hamilton. H. (April, 1907), “ Small Incinerators." Bnd. 
“ Haines, H. A. (.June, 1907). Ibid. 
' Other references to this system will be found in the Iiulian Medical Gazette for July. November, 190s, and 
in the Jonrnal of the Royal Aniiy Medical Curj>s for September, 190S. 
■' Entrican, .1. (February, 1907), “ Some Notes on the Conservancy of the Smaller Towns in Burma.” 
Indian Medical Gazette. 
