PREVENTIVE MEDICINE 



J ton of wood, 56 Ibs. of straw, and 2 gallons of paraffin. Coke 

 and peat may be substituted if more easily obtainable. The 

 Ministry states that the advantages claimed for this method of 

 cremation are : (1) Economy of fuel ; (2) No machinery or gird ; 

 (3) The pit, being shallow, can usually be dug in the most con- 

 venient place for the cremation; (4) The fire, when once alight, 

 requires no attention; (5) Complete combustion is secured with 

 the least possible quantity of fuel, the carcase itself feeding the 

 fire and the heat being concentrated in the pit, instead of being 

 wasted in the open air; (6) By means of the intense heat generated 

 in the pit, smell from the burning carcase is avoided. 



Veterinary surgeons who have had experience of this method 



Fie. 92. Diagram showing the dimensions of the Bostock Pit for 

 the cremation of cattle. 



of cremation will know that the claims are not exaggerated, and 

 to these may be added that it is much easier to draw a carcase into 

 this pit than it is to drag it up and on to an elevated pile. 



BURIAL OF CARCASES. When carcases of " diseased " animals 

 are buried they must be placed at such a depth that there is six 

 clear feet above them, and they must be covered with a sufficiency 

 of quicklime or other disinfectant. Animals which have been 

 buried may not be dug up without permission from the Ministry 

 of Agriculture. 



It is often impossible to dig a pit to the required depth owing 

 to underlying rock. The site chosen for burial should be such that 

 there is no possibility of contamination of the water supply. 



It is an offence to throw into the sea within the three-mile 

 limit or into any river, stream, canal, navigation or other water 

 the carcase of any animal which has died of disease or has been 



