94 BULLETIISr 414, V. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



The slaked or unslaked lime may be kept in an open box and is to 

 be used as directed in conjunction with the chloride of lime solution. 

 It is not sufficient by itself, but creates an alkaline medium in which 

 the action of the chloride of lime is most effective. It can be pur- 

 chased for about 75 cents a barrel. 



3. Provide a watertight steel-coopered barrel with a stout cover. 

 This may be mounted for convenience on wheels or on a hand truck. 

 Dump all excreta from the cans and pails into this barrel every 

 morning and allow it to stand until the following morning in order 

 that the disinfectants may have time to reach and destroy the organ- 

 isms. During the time that the mass is standing it need not be more 

 than 100 feet from the camp. It will be neither offensive to the senses 

 nor will it attract flies to any extent. It should, however, be kept 

 covered. After 24 hours haul it away from the camp, 100 yards or 

 more, pour it into a shallow trench similar to a plough furrow and 

 cover with the excavated earth. The barrel then is ready to be 

 returned to the camp and used over again in the same way. 



DISPOSAL OP EXCRETA AT PLACE OF WORK. 



With very few exceptions the roads being constructed by convict 

 gangs led through sparsely inhabited regions with much vacant land 

 on either side of the road. It was the common custom far the men 

 to move a few feet from the side of the road and deposit their excreta 

 on the surface of the ground. As the construction work progresses 

 with fair rapidity, very few deposits of excreta are made in any one 

 place, but, on the other hand, a certain amount is scattered over a 

 considerable territory, and there is danger that some may reach 

 streams or springs which furnish the water supplies for dwellings. 



To prevent this it is a very simple matter to require each man to 

 dig a hole in the ground from 6 to 12 inches deep and cover his excreta 

 with the earth immediately. This method, which is already in use 

 among certain groups of convicts, embodies excellent sanitary prin- 

 ciples and is similar to that prescribed by Moses to the children of 

 Israel (Deuteronomy XXIII, 12 and 13). 



When prisoners are at work in more thickly populated districts it 

 is the custom to provide for their use a small portable privy and 

 to dig a shallow pit each time the privy is moved. This method 

 is without objection provided the privy is kept a safe distance from 

 wells and other water supplies, and each fresh deposit of excreta is 

 covered immediately with earth. 



