The Ordway new era., 1910-07-22
SANITARY PRECAUTIONS
Tho Best Methods For Disposal of
Sewage. Colorado State Mod
icai Society Bulletin

"Sewage" Is commonly understood
to refer to mixture OF excreta, garb-
age and kitchen refuse, yet this
meaning seldom holds, for in cities
the garbage and kitchen refuse is
handled aud disposed OF separately,
and In small towns and rural districts
its disposal is seldom matter OF con-
cern, the excreta being the only
waste given consideration.
The sanitary prccaution necessary
in the disposal Of sewage. whatever
may be It's constituents, is that in
Kidding ourselves OF its presence we
shall not jeopardisc the health OF
others. Therefore we must exclude
the cOmmOnest method. that or dump
Ing it into a stream. TO SO dispose OF
any sewage Is to jeopardise the health
OF those who may use the water far
ther down the stream, for we have no
means of knowing TO what extent we
may c0ntaminate the water.
Perhaps the best and most econom-
ical method OF disposiug Of kitchen
refuse In rural districts and In camps,
IL to dix q saucer.shaped pit In the
ground three or four feet In depth
and OF diameter sufficient to accom-
modate the garbage from given
district. The bottom and sides OF the
pit are lined with stones, and the
crevices between them packed with
earth. SO that they are not easily dis
placed. A fire Is kept burning in the
bottom Of this pit, and as the garbage
is dumped upon It, the garbage Is con-
sumed. The combustible parts turn
to ash, and the liquid portions are
vap0rized. A very small ash residue
Is left, and, In rare intervals, when
the pit Is to be "cleaned out" the
detritis Is not more offensive than
ordinary ashes. II rags aud old rub
Der be excluded from these pits. the
vapors are not generally offensive.
The best method Of disposal OF ex-
creta open to rural districts Is the
"earth closet plan, adapted to the
special conditions one may meet In
various localities. The points In It's
favor are:
lit is inexpensive.
2-Thcre is no pollution OF streams.
3-The manure value Of the cxcrcta
need not be wasted.
It has the disadvantage OF requiring
the liquid (urine) and solid portions Of
the excreta To be kept separate. Dry
earth Is the cheapest and preferable
absorbent. After the defacation a
small shovclful OF the dried earth is
used to cover the deJccta. This pre-
vents odor, and dcssicatcs the fcccs
SO that when the time for removal
comes, the earth to be removed Is de-
void OF offensive odor or other dclctcr-
ious characteristic. This earth may
be removed aud used as manure, or IL
may be stored and dried thoroughly
and be used again and again. The
late Colonel Waring used dry earth so
prepared and cared for ten times
without its becoming offensive. The
earth is preferably air,!dried, since
artificial heat-as in NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
the saprophytic bacteria which are
important 10 destruction Of the oifen-
sive character OF the feces. Dry
earth may be used US an absorbent for
the urine also, but the receptacle will
require more constant changing.
Lime, alum and sulphate OF iron
have been used as additions to the
dry earth, and are employed by large
cities In dlsposing OF sewage by chem
ical methods, in settling tanks; but
for rural districts their use presents
no material advantages. II dried
earth be properly employed. no addi-
tional measures are necessary.