u > 
 
 \ I 
 
 8r/ u. k - 
 
 Vol. II DECEMBER, 1916 No. I 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA 
 
 DEPARTMENTAL BULLETINS 
 
 THE SANITARY PRIVY 
 
 THE PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY 
 
 Published Bi-Monthly by the University: North Dakota 
 
 Application Made for Entry at University, North Dakota, as Second Class Matter 
 Under Act of Congress of August 24, 1912 
 
NORTH DAKOTA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH 
 
 Henry J. Linde, Bismarck 
 A. M. Call, M.D., Rugby, 
 
 C. J. McGurren, M.D., Devils Lake, 
 
 President 
 Vice President 
 Secretary 
 
 THE STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORIES 
 
 University Bismarck 
 
 Fargo Minot 
 
 STAFF 
 
 John W. Cox, M.D., Acting Director 
 
 (Pathology, Serology and Hematology) 
 
 W. W. Hanford, M.S. 
 
 (Water Supplies and Sewage Disposal) 
 
 C. R. Newell, M.S. 
 
 (Rural Sanitation) 
 
 G. E. Richardson, B.A., Bacteriologist 
 
 A. Larson, M.S., Bacteriologist 
 
 B. C. Ford, Assistant in Bacteriology 
 E. J. Johnson, Assistant in Pathology 
 O. Furu, Technician 
 
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA 
 
 DEPARTMENTAL BULLETINS 
 
 Public Health December, 1916 No. 10 
 
 FOREWORD 
 
 The citizens of North Dakota are indebted to the 
 State Department of Health of Minnesota for the subject 
 matter and cuts in this bulletin. 
 
 A privy of the type described is not recommended for 
 use in congested districts where sewerage systems are avail- 
 able. All municipalities should be provided with sewerage 
 systems for removing household wastes by the water car- 
 riage system. It is strictly against the policy of the North 
 Dakota health authorities to advise the use of these privies 
 under such conditions. The privy here described is in- 
 tended for use in rural districts, and for temporary use in 
 thinly populated sections of a village until a sewerage sys- 
 tem is extended to that district. 
 
THE SANITARY PRIVY 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 The sanitary privy may be defined as a place for the 
 disposal of human excreta in such a manner that it will 
 not in any way become a factor in the transmission of dis- 
 ease, or endanger the health of the community in which it 
 is located. 
 
 Many diseases may be transmitted from sick to well 
 persons by means of these waste materials from the intes- 
 tines and kidneys. The two diseases known to be most 
 frequently transmitted by this means are typhoid fever and 
 dysentery. These diseases are caused by minute microscopic 
 forms of life which inhabit the intestines and sometimes are 
 found in the urine of infected persons. If the feces and 
 urine from these persons are not properly cared for during 
 the period of infection with these organisms, they may be 
 the cause af transmitting these diseases to other individuals. 
 
 Unfortunately, the organisms producing these diseases 
 do not always leave the patient with the disappearance of 
 the symptoms. They may remain in the bodies of conva- 
 lescents and be discharged with the feces and urine for some 
 time following an apparent recovery. Such persons are 
 known as carriers from the fact that they actually carry 
 the organisms producing these diseases for varying lengths 
 of time following an infection. These apparently well per- 
 sons often constitute the most dangerous class of individuals 
 connected with the transmission of disease. During serious 
 illness, persons are usually confined to their beds, conse- 
 quently their contact with the outside world is very limited, 
 but the convalescent persons and the carriers are different 
 in their habits. They wander about from place to place, 
 they are difficult to control, and consequently are liable to 
 scatter disease. 
 
 The following statement briefly illustrates the common 
 route of transmission of these intestinal diseases from the 
 sick to the well person. Excreta which have been voided 
 
by a patient, convalescent, or carrier may come in contact 
 with fingers, flies, water, or food, and through these media 
 be carried to the mouth of a well person. Thus it is seen 
 that the disease organisms leave the body of the infected 
 person with the excreta and may be carried to a well person. 
 
 Privies have long been used as the places of disposal 
 of human excreta by the dry method, that is, where no water 
 carriage system is available. The water carriage system 
 for the disposal of excreta and sewage consists of a collect- 
 ing system and, wherever necessary, a treatment plant. This 
 is a more convenient and comfortable method of disposing 
 of human excreta than the dry method, but in many cases 
 the owner cannot afford to make such an installation and a 
 privy must be used. 
 
 Before it was discovered that diseases were transmitted 
 by improperly caring for human excreta, privies were used 
 only for the purpose of privacy and protection. It is now 
 universally recognized that a privy should be designed to 
 serve two purposes. 
 
 (1) To provide a safe receptacle in which to deposit 
 
 human excreta. 
 
 (2) To insure privacy and comfort for the occupant. 
 
 The privy which does not provide a safe receptacle for 
 human excreta may be a factor in the spread of disease. 
 
 A privy may be improperly constructed or operated, 
 so that it will admit hogs, chickens, dogs, or other animals, 
 which might feed upon the material mixed with the excreta, 
 as shown in Figure I. Later, persons may handle the ani- 
 mals and incidentally get some of the excreta on their hands. 
 Afterward these persons may unconsciously put their fingers 
 to their lips, or eat a meal without thoroughly washing their 
 hands. This provides a direct means of transmitting disease 
 organisms to the mouth of a well person. 
 
 Lack of protection against flies, due to improper con- 
 struction of the privy, probably provides the greatest danger. 
 Flies are attracted to human excreta, as this constitutes one 
 of their many sources of food. They swarm over the ex- 
 posed excreta and feed upon the material, and carry away 
 small quantities on their legs and bodies, leaving a portion 
 of it wherever they may light. Flies are attracted by odors; 
 

 (<l ' 7 t 
 
 n h j, 
 
 FIG. I 
 
 therefore, when a meal is being prepared, they swarm around 
 the kitchen and it is very difficult to keep them out. They 
 crawl over the food which is exposed about the room, and 
 if they have had access to a privy which is not fly-proof, it 
 can be readily understood how they may contaminate the 
 food. A privy which permits such a condition is shown in 
 figure II. 
 
 A privy may be so constructed as to require frequent 
 handling of its contents. Privies that are constructed with 
 permanent vaults require cleaning. During the process of 
 cleaning, the excreta are usuallv shoveled from the vault 
 into a wagon or wheelbarrow, and later deposited on the 
 surface of the ground in some place where the material 
 can be used to fertilize the soil. During this process, the 
 excreta adhere to the shovel and the wagon, and sometimes 
 get on the hands of the workmen. Sometimes excreta are 
 scattered accidentally on the ground at the rear of the privy, 
 
or from the wagon during transit to its destination. Human 
 excreta are believed by many people to make excellent fer- 
 tilizer, hence such material is highly prized by certain gar- 
 deners and farmers. Not infrequently the place of disposal 
 is the garden, probably the radish or lettuce patch. If 
 these vegetables are about ready to be gathered for the table, 
 it is easily seen how the cycle of disease transmission is com- 
 pleted. The garden or field may be near a residence, and 
 flies might carry this material into the house. Therefore, 
 the cleaning of privies is a dangerous practice unless extreme 
 precaution is taken to prevent the exposure of the excreta. 
 
 A priv.y may be so located as to endanger tne safety of 
 a water supply. It may be located at an elevation above 
 the water supply, with the surface drainage in the direction 
 of the supply. It may be located below the high water level 
 of the area on which it is situated, which would permit flood- 
 ing of the privy pit with surface water. This would pro- 
 vide a means of conveying a portion of the excreta from 
 the pit and scattering it about on the surface of the ground. 
 In this way, the excreta might be carried to a water supply, 
 
or be exposed on the surface of the ground, as shown in 
 Figure II. There is a possibility in certain regions for a 
 water supply to become polluted from a privy by under- 
 ground channels in the rock formations. This possibility 
 is very remote under conditions as they are found in North 
 Dakota, and especially where the water supply and privy 
 are properly located and constructed. 
 
 Figure II illustrates general unsanitary conditions about 
 a farm. The privy is located too near to the house and is 
 improperly constructed, so that flies and animals have access 
 to the excreta. The flies are shown feeding on the excreta 
 
 FIG. Ill 
 
 in the privy and then carrying this material into the house 
 and depositing it on the food which is being prepared in 
 the kitchen. They are infesting the milk house and afford- 
 ing an opportunity for infection of the milk. They are 
 swarming about the child and crawling over the food which 
 he is eating. The house and milk house are not screened, 
 hence the flies have easy access when the windows and doors 
 are open. An improperly constructed well is located near 
 the privy, and there is ample opportunity for water to flow 
 from the privy vault into the well over the surface of the 
 
ground. Proper drainage is not provided, and surface water 
 collects at the rear of the house between the privy, well, 
 and milk house, and in the stagnant pond shown at the 
 right of the picture. The pond provides an excellent breed- 
 ing place for mosquitoes, which are very undesirable. The 
 rain water tub also furnishes a good breeding place for 
 mosquitoes, in case it is not emptied at frequent intervals. 
 
 Figure III shows the unsanitary conditions indicated 
 in Figure II corrected. It should be noted that privy and 
 well are properly located and constructed. The house and 
 milk house are screened to keep out flies. Good drainage 
 has been provided which will carry away surface water and 
 will not allow it to collect in pools around the privy, well, 
 or farm buildings. 
 
 In order to obtain and maintain a sanitary privy, three 
 important points must be given consideration, namely, loca- 
 tion, construction, and operation. A privy which meets 
 these requirements is shown in Figure III. 
 
 ( 1 ) The location of the privy must be such that it 
 will not endanger any water supply in this vicinity. It 
 must be located at an elevation which will prevent flooding 
 of the pit with the surface water, and still not drain in the 
 direction of a water supply. 
 
 (2) The construction of the privy must be such that 
 the excreta are absolutely protected against contact with 
 persons, animals, or flies, and flooding with surface water. 
 The building should afford protection and comfort, and 
 should be designed so that it can be easily kept clean. The 
 details of a properly constructed privy are found in Chapter 
 II. 
 
 ( 3 ) The operation of a privy includes keeping it clean 
 and in good repair. The details of operation are given in 
 Chapter III. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 It is not the purpose of this chapter to lay down any 
 fixed rules as to the dimensions of the privy, or to specify 
 the materials of construction. The purpose is to show the 
 principles which should be followed in order to construct a 
 sanitary privy. The few dimensions shown on the plans 
 may be followed, but it is obvious that these can be varied 
 considerably. 
 
 The privy described is of the movable type. The build- 
 ing will be moved when the vault is filled, as described in 
 Chapter III. In order that the building may be moved 
 without racking or twisting it out of shape, it must be pro- 
 
 vided with a stiff underframe. Figure IV shows the under- 
 frame constructed with this end in view. The two side 
 logs or runners should be approximately 8 feet in length 
 and 8 inches in diameter. Since these two logs will be the 
 part of the building closest to the ground, and consequently 
 the portion most subject to rot, they should be of some 
 wood, such as cedar, which will resist decay. The bark 
 should be entirely peeled from the side log, and the logs 
 and the cross framing should be thoroughly creosoted before 
 being put together. The cross pieces should be mortised 
 into the side logs and securely fastened with lag screws or 
 
FIG. VI 
 
large spikes. In order to keep the runners or side logs from 
 direct contact with the ground and reduce decay, they should 
 rest on planks slightly embedded in the earth. These planks 
 will rot out in a few years, and should be replaced whenever 
 the privy is moved. 
 
 The next step after assembling the underframe is to 
 erect the studding and place the rafters. Fig. V shows 
 the frame work completed, and ready for the siding, roof, 
 and floor. No instructions are necessary regarding the con- 
 
 FIG. VII 
 
 struction of the upper portion of the building, which is not 
 different from any frame structure. Cross sectional views 
 of the building are shown by Figure VI. Figures VII and 
 VIII show perspectives of the completed building, with a 
 portion of the walls cut away to show views of the interior. 
 Figure IX shows a perspective of the exterior of the build- 
 ing as completed. As shown in Figures VII and VIII, the 
 seat is divided into two parts, one portion to be used as a 
 closet seat for adults, and the other for children. The 
 
children’s seat is constructed so that it can be raised and 
 used as a urinal or as a place to dispose of feces or urine 
 collected at the house. A step is provided in front of the 
 children’ seat which is approximately 8 inches in height, as 
 shown by Figure VIII. It will be noted that the seats and 
 the urinal are provided with covers. These covers should 
 be constructed so that they will immediately fall into place 
 after use, and prevent the entrance of flies to the vault. 
 
 The top of the seat should be about i foot 5 inches above 
 the floor. The hole in the seat for adults should be approxi- 
 mately 10 inches long and 7^4 inches wide; that for chil- 
 dren should be 7 inches long and 6 inches wide, and the 
 front margin of the hole should be about 3 inches from the 
 front edge of the seat. 
 
 A window should be provided, and if made to open, it 
 should be covered with screen to keep out flies, as shown in 
 figure VII. A screen of copper wire is advised, as it will 
 last much longer than an iron screen. The door may be 
 
paneled or solid, but it should be strong and durable, and 
 made to fit well so as to keep out flies. The door should 
 have spring hinges, or a weight and pulley attacnment, to 
 keep it closed at all times. 
 
 The vault or pit should be as long as the width of the 
 privy between the inside of the runners, about 3 feet 6 
 inches. It should be about 3 feet in width, and approxi- 
 mately 3 feet to 4 feet in depth, depending upon the ground 
 
 FIG. IX 
 
 water level of the soil. To prevent the earth from caving 
 into the vault, the sides should be lined with boards, as 
 shown in Figure VII. These boards should project about 4 
 inches above the surface of the ground. 
 
 The exterior of the building should receive two coats 
 of good paint. This will improve the appearance as well as 
 protect the wood from decay. 
 
 Earth, preferably sand, should be banked up a few 
 inches against the lower boards on the front and rear of the 
 privy to prevent flies from gaining access at these points. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 As before stated, one of the chief functions of the sani- 
 tary privy is to provide a safe receptacle in which to deposit 
 human excreta. It is obvious that the vault or pit will 
 become filled as the privy is used. When the time arrives, 
 it will be necessary either to clean the old vault or to con- 
 struct a new one and move the privy. The dangers of 
 handling human excreta are stated in Chapter I. The 
 cleaning of an old vault is a very disagreeable operation. 
 The safest, and usually the easiest course, is to dig a new 
 pit, move the privy over it, and then fill in the old pit. A 
 
 fig. x 
 
 convenient method of moving the privy is shown by Figure 
 
 X. 
 
 On account of the board lining of the privy extending 
 above the surface of the ground, it will be necessary to 
 remove the lower boards between the runners, both the front 
 and rear, before the building can be moved. 
 
 It is advisable to place kerosene oil or dry straw in the 
 pit and burn off the side boards at the surface before filling 
 in the earth. By this method, any handling of the excreta 
 or exposure of the material to flies will be obviated. 
 
 The portions of the privy in contact with the ground 
 are the parts most liable to decay. The lower front and 
 
rear boards between the runners can easily be replaced. The 
 log runners are more difficult to replace, therefore they 
 should be protected against decay by creosoting and by pro- 
 viding planks bn which they may rest, thus keeping them 
 from direct contact with the ground. 
 
 If the earth banked against the front and rear lower 
 boards is washed away, this should be replaced immediately, 
 in order to prevent the entrance of flies and small animals. 
 
 The privy should be kept clean at all times. The floor 
 and seat should be washed thoroughly at regular intervals. 
 
 FREE BULLETINS FOR CITIZENS 
 
 1. State Public Health Laboratory, 
 
 History, Instructions and Fee Table. 
 
 2. Circular of Information for persons suffering from 
 
 Consumption. 
 
 3. Pure Water and How to Obtain It. 
 
 4. Sporotrichosis in North Dakota. 
 
 5. Facts about Rabies. 
 
 6. The Production and Care of Milk for Infant Feeding. 
 
 7. Facts about Cancer. 
 
 8. The Extermination of Flies. 
 
 9. Ninth Annual Report of State Public Health Labora- 
 
 tories. 
 
 10. The Sanitary Privy. 
 
 11. Your Baby and How to Keep it Well. 
 
 12. The Next Step towards Efficiency in Public Health.