I2O AGRICULTURAL BACTERIOLOGY. 



of it is in the privy vault and is handled like manure, and part 

 of it drains from the sink and is commonly allowed to waste 

 itself on the ground. 



Nothing further need be said concerning the first of these 

 portions. The contents of the privy vault have practically the 

 same relations to bacterial decomposition and denitrification as 

 already mentioned, and should be handled in essentially the 

 same manner. It is always emphatically necessary, however, 

 to remember that the contents of the privy vault are far more 

 likely to contain pathogenic bacteria than is barnyard manure, 

 and it should, consequently, be much more carefully handled. 

 That such material has been the means of distributing typhoid 

 fever in many cases is surely demonstrated. The bacilli of 

 this disease are voided by the patient in the excreta, and are 

 thus sure to find their way into the vault, to be subsequently 

 distributed over the fields where they may percolate through 

 the soil and pollute streams and wells. It is necessary, there- 

 fore, that the contents of the privy vault should be handled 

 with extreme care and should never be left in position where 

 it can possibly pollute the water of either brook or well. Great 

 precautions should also be taken to prevent its distribution 

 around the farm by soiled boots or tools which have been used 

 in handling it. It must be remembered that there is much more 

 likelihood of finding pathogenic bacteria in linman excrement 

 than in that of domestic cattle, and that the disease germs thus 

 found are far more likely to be injurious to human health. 

 Evidently the farmer should exercise much more care in 

 disposing of the contents of his privy vault than in the use of 

 his barnyard manure, and the constant addition of lime thereto 

 is certainly to be most thoroughly recommended. In other 

 respects this material has exactly the same relations to decom- 

 position and reconstructive processes as barnyard manure. 



The portion of sewage which comes from the wash water of 

 the sink or the dairy on the ordinary farm is so small that it 



