308 THE HOUSE FLY— DISEASE CARRIER 



Construction. — The apparatus under consideration 

 consists of the following parts : 



1. A water-tight barrel, to be used as a liquefier. 



2. A covered water-tight barrel, can, or other con- 

 tainer to receive the effluent. 



3. A connecting pipe about two and one-half inches 

 in diameter, about twelve inches long, and provided 

 with an open "T" at one end, both openings of the 

 "T" being covered by wire screens. 



4. A tight box, preferably zinc lined, which fits 

 tightly on the top of the liquefying barrel ; it is pro- 

 vided with an opening on top for the seat, which has 

 an automatically closing lid. 



5. An anti-splashing device consisting of a small 

 board placed horizontally under the seat and one 

 inch below the level of the transverse connecting 

 pipe ; it is held in place by a rod, which passes 

 through eyes or rings fastened to the box, and by 

 which the board is raised and lowered. The liquefy- 

 ing tank is filled with water up to the point where it 

 begins to trickle into the effluent tank. 



As an insect repellent a thin film of some form of 

 petroleum may be poured on the surface of the liquid 

 in each barrel. 



Practical working of the apparatus. — When the 

 privy is to be used, the rod is pulled up so that the anti- 

 splashing board rises to within about one inch below 

 the surface of the water. The fecal matter falls into 

 the water, but this board prevents splashing, and thus 

 meets one of the greatest objections thus far raised to 

 the wet system. After defecation the person sinks the 

 anti-splashing board by depressing the rod, and the 



