DEPARTMENT OF THE m n .ARMY FIELD MANUAL DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE MANUAL MILITARY SANITATION DEL-AWARE NATIONA;-GUIJARD ACADEM- STATr AWi{,,TC i3y WILMINGIQN, DELAWARE DEPARTMENTS OF THE ARMY AND THE AIR FORCE MAY 1951 *FM 21-10/AFM160-46 FIELD MANUAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE ARMY No. 21-10 AND THE AIR FORCE AIR FORCE MANUAL No. 160-46 )WASHINGTOx 25, D. C., 6 May 1957 MILITARY SANITATION Paragraph Page CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION Section I. General ---------------------- 1-3 4 II. Responsibility for Military Sani- 4-8 5 tation. CHAPTER 2. CONTROL OF COMMUNI- CABLE DISEASES Section I. General .-. ..................9-22 9 II. Diseases of Military Importance_ 23-40 19 CHAPTER 3. FIELD WATER SUPPLY Section I. General -..................... 41-47 34 II. Water Reconnaissance -------- 48 52 42 III. Field Water Purification ------ 53-59 45 CHAPTER 4. IMPROVISED SANITARY DEVICES Section I. General ...-......... 60, 61 57 ]I. Water Heaters .--------- 62-66 57 III. Mess Gear Washing Devices --- 67-69 65 IV. Handwashing devices -- - 70, 71 67 V. Shower Facilities -------------- 72, 73 69 CHAPTER 5. WASTE DISPOSAL Section I. General---------------------- 74-76 72 11I. Human Wastes..-...... 77-85 73 III. Liquid Wastes ---------------- 86-88 87 IV. Garbage ..-.......... 89-93 93 V. Rubbish ------------ 94-96 97 *This manual supersedes FM 21-10. 5 July 1945. ineluding C 1, 27 November 1945, and C 2,.15 January 1946. AGO 5609C-April 1 Paragralph Page CHAPTER 6. KITCHEN AND MESS SANI- TATION Section I. General -................ 97, 98 09 II. Food Inspection -------- - 99-105 100 III. Handling and Storage of Food_-_ 106-111 104 IV. Preparation and Serving of Food_ 112-118 109 V. Cleaning of Messes, Kitchen 119-123 116 Equipment, and Eating and Cooking Utensils. CHAPTER 7. PERSONAL HYGIENE Section 1. General 124-128 121 II. Measures to Protect and Im- 129-141 123 prove Health. CHAPTER 8. :MOSQUITO-OIITNE I)IS- EASES AND THEIR CON- TROI. Section I. Gencral ------------------- - 142, 14:3 138 II. Characteristics of Mosquitoes___144-146 141 111. Control Measurles .-....... 147-156 144 IV. Insect Resistance ---- 157-159S 165 CnAPTER 9. LOUSE-BORNE DISEASES ANI) THEIR CONTROL() Section 1. Introduction. -............ 160, 161 168 1I. Characteristics of Lice1 . .... I162-167 170 III. Delousing Methods 168-178 172 CHAPTER 10. FLY-BIORNE DISEASES AN 1) THEIR CONTROL Section I. Introduction .-............ 179-181 18-1 11. Characteristics of Flies -------- 182, 183 184 111. Control Measures - ....... 184-190 187 CHAPTER 11. ARACHNII)-BORNE (TICKS, MITES, SPIDERS) DIS- EASES AND T131ER CON- TROL Section I. Introduction …. 191, 192 192 2 AGO 5609C Paragraph Pago II. Characteristics and Habits of 193 194 Ticks. III. Control of Ticks .-.. 194-199...... 196 IV. Mites and Chiggers - . ........200, 201 198 V. Black Widow Spider ----------. 202 203 VI. Scorpions..-............ 203, 204 205 CHAPTER 12. FLEA-BORNE DISEASES AND THEIR CONTROI, Section I. Introduction ... .....---..... 205 208 II. Characteristics and Habits of 206 210 Fleas. III. Control Measures.- . 207,....... 208 211 CIIAPTER 13. MISCELLANEOUS INSECTS AND INSECT-BORNE DIS- EASES AND THEIR CON- 209-217 214 TROL 14. RODENT-BORNE DISEASES AND THEIR CONTROL Section 1. Introduction .... ... 218-223 230 II. Rodent Control --------------- 224--233 235 CHAPTER 15. MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES 234-239 246 16. ADAPTATION AND THE PROBLEMS OF EIXTREME CLIMATE Section 1. General 240, 241 254 11. Life in the Tropiscs.. -..... 242-247 255 II1. Life in the Arctic 248-256 264 CHAPTER 17. MARCH HYGIEINE AND CAMP SITES Section I. March lHygiene.. ....257-261 274 11. Selection of Camp Sites -------- 262-268 279 APPENDIX CONVERSION TABLES -..--- -- 280 INDEX--..---.-.. ---------------- ------- 290 AGO 5609C 3 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Section I. GENERAL 1. Purpose and Scope This manual provides information and instruc- tion in the use of established, practical measures designed to preserve health and prevent disease in the Army. It explains the fundamentals and prin- ciples of sanitation and their application under garrison and field conditions. It points out the re- sponsibilities of command and of the individual soldier for knowing and observing the rules of sanitation and hygiene, especially as they apply to living conditions and circumstances peculiar to the military service. 2. Definition a. Sanitation may be defined as the effective use of measures which will create and maintain healthful environmental conditions. Among these measures are the safeguarding of food and water and the control of disease-bearing insects and rodents. b. Hygiene may be defined as the employment, by the individual, of practices which will keep him healthy. Among these practices are proper eating, body cleanliness, and the avoidance of known sources of disease. c. Military sanitation includes the practices of ~~~~~~~~4~~AGO 5609C both environmental sanitation and personal hy- giene, particularly within the framework of situa- tions and experiences associated with Army life. 3. Importance of Military Sanitation Manpower is our most valuable asset. Every- thing possible must be done to conserve this asset. In recent wars more deaths have resulted from enemy action than from disease, but disease still causes the greatest loss of Army manpower through disability and time lost from duty. Suc- cess in battle-the ultimate objective of any army -demands that troops be maintained in a con- stant state of combat readiness. Military sanita- tion contributes to this effort by employing all of the measures designed to protect and improve the health of the Army. Section II. RESPONSIBILITY FOR MILITARY SANITATION 4. Command a. The commanding officer of a military organ- ization is responsible for the health of his com- mand. In the fulfillment of this responsibility he is assisted by a staff of trained specialists. With the help of their technical advice and guidance, the commander issues orders and enforces meas- ures which will most effectively maintain military sanitation and practices conducive to the health and well-being of his troops. The maintenance of the health and, consequently, the fighting efficiency of his command is one of the commander's highest responsibilities. AGO 5609C S5 b. Supporting the commander in the perform- ance of this duty is his chief medical adviser-the surgeon of the command. The surgeon is responsi- ble to the commander for the successful function- ing of the medical service within his command, including treatment of disease and injury; devis- ing, recommending, and supervising training and activities directed toward disease prevention, personal hygiene, and first aid; furnishing technical advice and supervision in connec- tion with the health aspects of camp sites, water supplies, food and its preparation, waste disposal, bathing facilities, housing, clothing, and insect and rodent control. While it is the commander's direct responsibility to en- force the practices of military sanitation, it is the surgeon's responsibility to advise what should be done. Only in matters involving tech- nical and professional knowledge does the surgeon specify how it should be done. The commander may authorize the surgeon to give orders in his (the commander's) name for effecting immediate correction of sanitary defects. Even then, full re- sponsibility remains with the commander. 5. Army Medical Service The Army Medical Service has the mission of providing a complete health service for the Army. Personnel of the Army Medical Service, under the surgeon, who are particularly concerned with dis- ease prevention and military sanitation measures are the preventive medicine officer, the veterinary officer, the sanitary engineer, the entomologist, the nutrition officer, and members of preventive medi- 6 AGO 5609C cine units. Any or all of these specialists and others may be assigned to and utilized in certain larger commands, so far as the size of the com- mand and related circumstances may dictate. When so assigned- a. The preventive medicine officer, under the surgeon, recommends and supervises an adequate program of preventive medicine for the command to which he is assigned. This program encom- passes personal hygiene, communicable disease control, environmental sanitation, and nutrition. b. The sanitary engineer and the entomologist serve as assistants and technical advisers to the preventive medicine officer and the surgeon re- garding problems of sanitary engineering and the control of disease-bearing insects and rodents. c. The nutrition officer and the laboratory officer serve as assistants and technical advisers to the surgeon on matters of diet, examination of water, milk, and food, and specimens from the sick. d. The veterinary officer serves as an assistant and technical adviser to the surgeon and is respon- sible for the inspection of animals, foods of animal origin, and certain other foods, as directed. e. Preventive medicine units-comprising en- tomologists, sanitary engineers, laboratory special- ists, and enlisted men trained in sanitation and in- sect and rodent control-supervise and assist in the execution of measures of disease control with- in the command as recommended by the surgeon. 6. Corps of Engineers The Corps of Engineers is responsible for the design, construction, and operation of many facili- AGO 5609C 7 ties and services necessary for the maintenance of health. It plans, constructs, and maintains build- ings, grounds, water treatment plants and sewage disposal works. Services such as heat and light and, sometimes, insect