28(S GAUR180N. 



on ciccouut of the expense but chiefly on account of thfc lack ol' .supervi- 

 sion that wonltl exist were it put in operation. The privy or pit system, 

 which has served in civilized countries so long, seems to be practicable 

 uutler pieh'ent conditions, its success would depend, first, upon proj)er 

 construction and, second, upon proper supervision. 



The pit should be dug 1 meter squai'e and 'i meters deep; if possible, it 

 sliould be walled with bamboo, the eai'th from the pit should be l^anked 

 ai'ound the edges and the pit should have a bamboo cover, fitting as 

 tightly as possible; there should be a loof' o\cr the pit and a screen on 

 the sides. Earth, ashes or rice husks should be used to cover the faeces. 

 M'hen the ])it is three-quarters full, another should be dug near by and 

 the structure moved over it, the old pit being filled in. Frequent in- 

 spections, one at least every month, should be made by the municipal 

 physician and the police to insure the success of these pits and, oc- 

 casionally, disinfectants should be added, particularly when flies are 

 excessive. 



Several objet:tions have been made lo the pit system :• First, that 

 the pits fill up in the rainy season ; second, that they pollute the soil and 

 wells; third, that they increase the flies; fourth, that they are not as 

 advantageous for the disposal of excreta as are the natural agents such 

 as the sun and animals. 



In answer to the first objection, it may be said that several pits like 

 those described above were made at Taytay and were inspected by the 

 writer at the end of the first quarter of the rainy season. No water was 

 fourrd in the pits dug in the earth and arranged as described above. 

 If there is no roof or covering, some water will collect undoubtedly. 



As to the second objection, pollution of the soil and wells does occur 

 with the present arrangements in Taytay; and the pollution of the soil 

 would be less with a pit system while pollution of the wells wouM probably 

 not be much greater than at present. However, the people usually get 

 their drinking water away from their habitations and will probably have 

 an artesian water supply shortly. 



As to the increase of flies: Unless the fseces are covered, flies will 

 rmdoubtedly breed in them. However, flies abound under the present 

 conditions in Taytay. 



Further information on the fly questiorr and the employment of pigs 

 for the disposal of faeces are necessary, but I anr satisfied that the pit 

 system is feasible and would be an improvement on the present conditions 

 in Taytay. The pit system can not be used in rocky or swamj^y soil. 

 A dike system may be feasible under such conditions, but this also would 

 require further investigation. 



