102 BULLETIlsr 4l4, U. S. DEPAETMEJSrT OF • AGEICULTURE. 



The disposal of garbage is accomplished in some instances by 

 spreading it over the surface of the ground at a distance of 100 to 

 300 feet from the camp. The moisture evaporates rapidly in dry, hot 

 weather and the remains, though unsightly, are greatly reduced in 

 bulk and have but little odor. In damp weather, however, the gar- 

 bage retains its moisture for a long time. It ferments and attracts 

 large numbers of flies, and the odors are offensive for considerable 

 distances. The rains wash it over the surface of the ground and may 

 even carry some of it back to the camp, causing unpleasant odors 

 and attracting flies. Under these conditions springs and wells are 

 not free from danger of pollution. This method is, therefore, very 

 unsatisfactory and should not be used. 



Incineration. 



Destruction by fire of both liquid and solid garbage wastes gives 

 absolute security. Only one convict camp was encountered where an 

 incinerator was m use, and in this case not only was garbage 

 destroyed but all general camp wastes, including horse manure. The 

 officers of the camp were enthusiastic over the results which had been 

 attained by the use of the incinerator, the sanitary condition of the 

 camp was excellent, and flies were few in number. 



A very simple type of incinerator is constructed by digging a pit 

 5 feet long, 2^ feet wide, 6 inches deep at one end and 12 inches deep 

 at the other. The pit is then fiUed with field stones upon which the 

 fire is built, and the excavated earth is banked about the sides. 

 After the stones have become thoroughly heated liquid wastes are 

 poured into the pit at the shallow end. They come into contact with 

 the hot stones at the bottom of the pit and are evaporated without 

 quenching the fire. The solid wastes are placed on the fire where 

 they soon dry out and burn as fuel. If stones are not available, tin 

 cans may be substituted and used repeatedly. When neither stones 

 nor cans are at hand a fire made in a pit of this character will destroy 

 a considerable amount of garbage, both liquid and solid, but the use 

 of stones or cans is preferable. 



CALDWELL (OR ENGLISH) CREMATORY. ^ 



Whenever fuel is scarce and stones few, this style of crematory may 

 be improvised readily and is very efficient. It consists of a trench 10 

 feet long and 1 foot wide, about 15 inches deep at the middle and 

 thence gradually shallowing up at each end to the surface level. 

 Over the deep part, with one end resting on the edges of the trench, 

 a barrel is placed, and around it clay, earth, or sod, sprinkled with 

 water, is packed tightly. A fire is made in the interior and the barrel 

 burned out, after which there remains a hoUow cone of earth. Fuel 

 and garbage are dropped down this chimney. Of the two openings 



1 Havard, Valery, "Military Hygiene," pp. 654-655. 



