During the early post WW2 period up to about 1957 we lived with my grandmother in what was then very rural Devon. Sanitation solutions were provided by a large galvanised bucket beneath a wooden plank with a large hole in it. The bucket and plank were located in a windowless ( sometimes door less ) shed. The bucket was always given a generous dollop of Jeyes Fluid before the contents were buried in a deep trench in the garden.
This treatment, my Gran always assured me, killed anything harmful. The trench area was left fallow for a year and then early Autumn the surface area was drenched with a Jeyes Fluid solution ( 1 desert spoon to 1 gall water per sq. yard) ready for planting next spring.
We always seemed to have pest free vegetables and wonderful soil and didn’t die of anything.
This info is for historical interest only as the EU have banned the use of Jeyes for any purpose except as a patio cleaner unless you live in the USA where use as a sterilant is still allowed.
But seriously I don’t think I wish to use a coal tar product where my veg will grow!
