LATRINES AND URINALS.
In dealing with the sanitation of a bazaar, the provision of
scientifically designed latrines and urinals is a matter of the greatest
importance. There are numerous patterns of these, some very well
arranged as regards the necessary requirements for efficient working,
but many more not so. The selection of the pattern adopted is frequently
a mere matter of chance, and the attention paid to the subject by the
Municipal Commissioners a minimum quantity; badly arranged ones are
probably just as expensive to construct in the first instance as good
ones, which are much more useful.
[Sidenote: Distribution of Latrines and Urinals.]
[Sidenote: Ventilation.]
[Sidenote: Drainage.]
A large number of small latrines and urinals suitably distributed are
more effective than a few large ones, and are not much more costly to
construct and maintain; they should not be grouped together, or placed
back to back, as light and air should be allowed to play on all sides;
for convenience a small covered annexe may be provided for the carts.
For ventilation purposes it must be remembered that, owing to the
friction of the air on the sides, a number of small openings are not
nearly of as great value as a large one of the same area. Where good
drainage is unavailable, storm-water from the roofs should discharge
into moveable buckets which can be easily emptied, thus avoiding
saturation of the soil. Care must however be taken to put these in
places where they cannot be misused.
[Sidenote: Latrines at Police Barracks and private houses.]
Latrines should be provided at all Police barracks or out-posts; the
prevention of nuisance in a Municipality is under the control of the
local police, and the out-posts are, in many cases, either unprovided
with latrines, or have them of such a description that the men are
driven to commit the nuisance they are supposed to prevent. Similarly,
house-owners should be made to provide suitable arrangements for their
servants.
[Sidenote: Bailey’s Patent Latrines.]
A good latrine in the Indian market is ‘Bailey’s Patent,’ Fig. 12, page
27. This combines efficient ventilation of the latrine, with an
arrangement of double trays, thus preventing saturation and consequent
pollution of the soil on which it stands. The superstructure is made of
corrugated iron strongly braced, and can be made of any number of
compartments required; the patent latrine seat inside is independent of
the superstructure, and can be easily taken out and cleaned. The seats
however are inconveniently small. They cost from Rs. 114 for a two-seat
to Rs. 324 for an eight-seat one.
[Sidenote: Donaldson’s Separation Latrine.]
Donaldson’s Separation Latrine, in which the urine and solid matter are
kept separate, is also an excellent pattern. Separation latrines are,
however, unsuitable where it is proposed to deal with the night-soil by
bacteriological agency, and must seriously decrease its manurial value
also. It is merely a handy way of disposing of solid fæces.
[Sidenote: Alipore Pattern Latrine.]
The Alipore pattern latrine is a good type. Stoneware seats set in
brick-work are preferable to iron ones.
Septic tank latrines are very useful under suitable circumstances. A
design for a 12–seated one with a separate flushing tank for each seat
is shown in Fig. 13, page 28, the estimated cost being Rs. 4,586, or Rs.
382 per seat. Before deciding on adopting a latrine of this description,
“Sewage Disposal in the Tropics,” by Major Clemesha, I.M.S., Sanitary
Commissioner, Bengal, should be consulted.
[Illustration:
BAILEY’S PATENT LATRINES, WITH SUPERSTRUCTURE “STANDARD PATTERN.”
FIG. 12.
]
[Illustration:
PLAN OF 12 SEATED SEPTIC TANK LATRINE
LONGITUDINAL SECTION
PLAN
FIG. 13.
]
[Sidenote: Masonry Latrines.]
[Sidenote: Disadvantages of Tarring.]
Where masonry latrines or urinals are provided, the walls and floor
should be smooth and well polished to allow of easy cleaning, and should
be white or some light colour, so that if there is dirt, it can be at
once seen and removed. In latrines for hospitals, and also in public
ones which are much frequented, it would be an advantage to line the
walls to a height of 3 feet, and also the floors, with glazed tiles or
bricks. This will make them much cleaner and less forbidding looking. It
is an obvious mistake to coat the lower part of a latrine wall with tar,
the antiseptic value of which, especially in a hot climate, is soon
lost, and which hides and retains dirt in its composition. The usual
practice is to cover a dirty latrine wall with a fresh layer of tar,
thus preserving an old coat of filth and forming a fresh bed for a new
one.
In all latrines it is of great importance to have the rear openings of
convenient size for the efficient removal of the buckets from their
seats on the level platform.
[Sidenote: Urinals.]
A cart urinal in the vicinity of cutcherries will be found useful. This
is merely a receptacle of convenient size resting on a masonry floor and
placed under a raised and enclosed platform on which the squatting plate
is fixed; the receptacle can be easily removed and replaced by an empty
one; the form is a convenient one and can be efficiently ventilated.
[Sidenote: Hindu Patent Urinal.]
[Sidenote: Disinfectants.]
Bailey’s Patent Urinal, Fig. 14, page 30, is very suitable. This costs
from Rs. 48 for a two-seat to Rs. 222 for a six-seat one. The patent
urinal stands inside the compartment and can be taken out and cleaned
without difficulty. For disinfecting purposes chlorinated lime is very
useful. It should have 33% of free chlorine, and must be used fresh as
it rapidly decomposes. Phenyle is also very useful.
[Sidenote: Red Hand Marks.]
An ingenious way of making Hindus face the right way, when using
latrines, is to make the mark of an outspread hand in red on the wall
which they should face, as no Hindu will turn his back on this sign.
[Sidenote: Model Rules.]
A set of model rules for private privies and urinals is given in
Appendix A, page 57.
[Illustration:
“HINDU” PATENT URINAL, WITH CORRUGATED IRON SUPERSTRUCTURE.
FIG. 14.
]