102 
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 in 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 filled 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. 1 
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 hollow cone of earth. Fuel 
and garbage are dropped down this chimney. Of the two openings 
1 Havard, Valery, "Military Hygiene," pp. 654-655. 
