Hygiene

In the months prior to the advance hygiene arrangements were routine—chlorination of water, burial of refuse in deep pits which were burnt out, use of deep-trench latrines, provision of showers for the troops, and use of the mobile laundry for washing clothes. Greater prevalence of lice rendered disinfestation more necessary and it was done either by dusting with DDT or by steam disinfestation.

During the advance the hundreds of dead animals, as well as dead Germans, created a problem. The animals were sprayed with tar oil, collected, and buried. A recovery vehicle was used to drag animals off the road and out of ditches. Civilian labourers and German prisoners of war were employed in these duties, and AMGOT took over the work after the advance.

During May hygiene was a problem in Trieste because of the difficult position and lack of control. Water was chlorinated in the carts; showers were made available; but the digging of latrines proved difficult because of the rocky country. A municipal tip was used at Trieste for refuse. After the active operations were over, hygiene discipline became difficult to enforce, especially as regards precautions against malaria, and the OC Hygiene Company reported that he had the greatest difficulty in getting the necessary support from officers in this respect.