The courier-index., 1920-02-27

is most important question rom the standpoint of health ana one that does not receive the consla- eration that should be given to II. The fact that the organisms that cause such diseases as typhoid lev er. dysentary and other diseases are nresent in the itestinal discharges of natients suffering from these dls- eases is pointed out by w. l.. Bleecher. Pathologist and Bacteroi- opist of the University of Arkan- sas. as one of the important argu- ments for precautions in the dis- posal of sewage material on the farm.
 For the farm home that does not have running water, prlvy IS . necessity" declares Mir. Bleecher. "However, the privy that IS found on the average farm is not only disgrace but it IS positive men ace to the health of the family: A privy in which there is no provision 10 exclude flies and to which the pigs and poultry have free access is an important factor in the spread of diseases of intestinal orlgIn ana in the spread of intestinal parasites. The flies are the worst offenders as they come in direct contact with the sewage, polluting their feet and mouth-parts, then go directly to the kitchen and dining room and contaminate food that is being pre- pared for the family.
 "The privy should be located at
 
 and as far as possible from the we'll from which drinking water IS secured. The safe distance from the we'll will depend on the char acter of the soil.
 Tn the construction of the privy, the first thing which should be con sidered is to so screen 1t that no flies can get in contact with the intestinal discharges. This can be done by screening around the walls on the outside and by providing | tight covers for the seats. It is necessary of course that these cov- CTS be kept closed. If a privy with | a vault or pit is used, new hole should be provided, the privy nov ed to the new location, and the l old one filled with earth as soon as 1t becomes two-thirds full. A better plan than using the vault is | to provide a box or bucket which | may be removed and emptied at short intervals. Such a privy IS l easily constructed and is much more | healthful than where a pit is used. 1 The bucket should be emptied at l some distance from the house and the contents should be buried one and a half or two feet deep. In either type of privy it is recon mended to apply quick lime at least 1 three times each week to keep down the odor and to, in some measure, disinfect the feces.
 Where there is water system on the farm there is no excuse for the out door privy. At best a privy is unhealthful and in the cold the necessary exposure re duces the resistance of the entire family making them more than sus- ceptible to diseases of all kinds. Where there is running water a sep tic tank should be provided. This is a tank constructed of brick or and so arranged to hold l the sewage a few hours to allow the bacteria that are present to di- | gest the solid part. This action al so purifies the material so there is but little danger of the spread of | disease from sewage after passing | through septic tank.
 "The septic tank may consist of | one or two chambers but the one of ! two chambers is preferred. In the I one chamber tank there is a si- phon by which the tank is emptied | only when the contents reach cer- tain level. In this way the contents | are held for a sufficient time for the bacteria to act upon them. | Where there are two chambers the first one is about the size of the second and it is in this chamber there are baffle boards which pre- ,ent the direct flow from the inlet 10 the outlet and they also aid in he formation of thick scum over he surface which assists the action |