New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-02

With incineration these dangers would have Deeh
removed and infection practically limited to outside
sources.
IncineratOrs have been used before and certain
kinds are now in vogue in foreign armies but none
perfectly adapted TO military field service Inc
smaller ones are very offensive during periods of In
cineration and the larger ones. In which the doors
are destroyed, too heavy to be easily carried
about and too expensive well In the ircineTa-
tors experimental with at camp these objections
were not present. They little too heavy 10
be transporable with troops daily marches. each
one weighing about three hundred pounds but the
matter of weight is one that can be reduced one
half In the construction of new ones. Otherwise
they were not expensive, and were aDsolutey
odorless at all times even when the process OF In
cincration was in progress. AS originally deslgheu
by their inventors two Buffalo men. they were In
tended for use In small places where there was
no sewerage system. But Major William G. Bssell,
surgeon major of the Hth Regiment, OF BuiIaio'
and bacteriologist of the Buffalo Health Depart
ment. who has given camp sanitation considerable
thought conceived the idea Of adapting them for
military purposes in field by making them port
able. - ,,. ho,.
through a visit of Major-Genera Roe to BunaloS
several months ago. To him Major Bissell spoke Oh
the incinerators and Of what he thought they
would accomplish in military camps ana oeneldfi
Roe not only became interested at once, but, real
izing their value in camp 4 they should prove sue
tested in actual military service at once S dnd
State accordingly ordered seventeen OF iHeH anu
Major Bissell detailed TO camp for the purpose
of determining if they could be applied 10 mi"taIy
field work. .,. -.
Weighing three hundred pounds each, ana Iookea
not unlike so many stoves. They consisted OF q
cylinder Of sheet IRON within which was recep-
tacle similar to kettle swung on trunnons, WIN
pipe with elbow. for the purpose OF securing a
draught, and the whole so arranged with grbusns
systems inside 10 draw all fumes ana gases
down through the fire. there to be destroyed be-
fore they passed into the outside air. Incineraton
occupied one hour. and was absolutely odorless
They were taken into the field with the lst Bat
TALON Of the 23d Regiment and Transported from
one camp to the other as the battalion moved anu
received thorough and severe tests by each or
eanization They stood them all most successfully
and men and officers belonging to the organizations
lighted with the results Major Bissell not the
least so He says his new incinerators will be
made so as to weigh not more than one hundred
and fifty pounds and he has In contemplation the
construction of trucks which will carry ten IN
cinerators each Three such trucks he considers
would be sufficient for regiment OF twelve. nun
While the incinerators were in use in the field
camps they also came under the careful ana tnor-
ough investigation OF General Roe and Colonel Mel
were as greatly pleased with the successful issue
as Major Bissell had been. For permanent camps
or when troops were not moved often General Roe
said AT the close OF the camp season, incinerators
OF the size used in the experiments. n they could
When commands had TO move every day, the In
cinerators should be made about half the size or
the present ones. and they would he so made.
Then about four TO a company or one hundred men
would serve for that number once In every twenty
four hours. Their use. the General said. would
also prove a great saving the men In the physi-
earthen sinks well as In preserving their health,
and they would be particularly excellent for hos
would be wise for the Government look into the
matter Immediately for the Cuban camps.