13
Before setting out on my first tour I proposed, in addition to vaccination duties, to direct
my attention to two or three other subjects, viz:—
(a.)—The water-supply for various villages.
(b.)—Their sanitary condition.
(c.)—The diseases that chiefly affect the people.
(d.)—The cause of these diseases.
I found, however, that in order to work out any practical results I should devote much
more time than I had at my command, and was therefore compelled to contract the "line"
I had laid out for myself, and am therefore only in a position to make a few general remarks
on these points; for instance, I determined to count the number of wells in each village, note
their condition, position, depth, source of supply, and contamination, if any, &c., and contrast
this with the diseases of the village or group of villages in the vicinity; but as I sometimes
visited ten or twelve a day I found this was impracticable.
I would merely remark then that I did not see a single instance of a well properly pro-
tected from pollution, in a few villages pakká wells have been built, but the absence of any
suitable protection is universal, the soiled water either trickles or percolates back into the
well and keeps it in a constant state of impurity.
The majority of the wells are merely water holes dug to a sufficient depth to admit of
water being obtained, and not a foot deeper, the sides of the mouth always sloping inwards
and receiving all refuse water; even when filtered its taste is not pleasant, nor does it assume
that " sparkling" appearance clean water should possess; few villages are unprovided with water
holes, though the people do not as a rule resort to them for their supply, an adjoining stream
or tank is preferred, and the water hole is used as a dernier resort; in some villages where
streams are too far to be availed of, and no tanks exist, these water holes are used indiscrimi-
nately for washing and watering human beings, buffaloes, cattle and pigs; in these cases the
condition of the well and the surrounding ground, or rather mud, needs no description, it is sim-
ply awful.
I was encamped at a village called Ságar, about fifteen miles from Seoni, where such a state
of things as I have just described existed, and strange to say not 200 yards off a well containing
clear sparkling water was in first-rate working order, but—and here was the hitch—it belonged
to the Patel, and was only used for watering his sugarcane field,—the smell from the one was
disgusting, the other was all that could be desired; on making enquiries as to the chief diseases
of that village, I was informed that cholera committed fearful ravages there in 1869 the popu-
lation is only 166, yet case after case died till the number rose to 40, the remainder, panic-
stricken and bewildered, left the village in a body, and encamped on the bank of a stream
some five miles off in the jungle; here they remained some three weeks or so, during which time
not one case of cholera occurred, they then took heart and returned to their village; the follow-
ing day two cases occurred, when they again fled to their stream, and did not return till driven
in by the rains,— the disease had ceased.
In some of the larger villages, and where the Málgúzárs are more enlightened than the
usual run of village Patels, some attempts at sanitation have been made, rubbish, manure, &c.,
is stored outside the villages, and the streets are to a certian extent swept and clean, pigs are
kept outside the village, though I am not able to say if this is a recent custom, cattle are still
housed with the family, and nothing has anywhere been done towards draining or paving
the roads, and as for latrines there are none. During the rains, therefore, the village
streets are masses of mud, but in the dry season this is.,all changed, the houses are dry, open
and clean, the floors washed with a mixture of cow-dung, ashes, or white clay, and the enclosure
in front, though not laid out with English precision, is still clean and dry; in small villages
then (other than Gond, these being a filthy race) three essentials—good air, dryness, and
cleanliness—really exist to a greater extent than we usually give the people credit for, but
in the larger villages where crowding exists these necessary items in sanitation are not so
apparent, and much room for improvement exists.
The diseases most prevalent in these parts are fevers, intermittent being the most com-
mon, and although they are most frequent during and after the rains they are also not unfre.
quent during the cold or hot season. I do not believe that " malaria" has anything to do with
a large number of these fevers, they exist in localities where malaria-producing conditions are
wanting, and at seasons when there should be none. Jhíls, swamps, rank vegetation, or jungle