NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
SECT. X.]
SANITARY REGULATIONS.
239
CXLIII. MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONERS EMPOWERED TO MAKE BYE-LAWS.—
It shall be lawful for the Municipal Commissioners to make Bye-laws, and to
repeal, alter, and amend the same, subject to the confirmation hereinafter
mentioned, for regulating the time and mode of collecting the rates and taxes
mentioned in this Act, for regulating the conduct of persons employed by
them, for the management of all matters connected with
conservancy, and for carrying out all purposes of this
Act, and to affix fines as penalties for the infringement of such Bye-laws.
Provided that no Bye-law shall be repugnant to any law in force, and that no
fine for any one infringement of a Bye-law shall exceed twenty Rupees, and
that, in case of a continuing infringement, no fine shall exceed ten Rupees
for every day after notice from the Commissioners of such infringement.
CXLV. CONFIRMATION AND PUBLICATION OF BYE-LAWS.—NO Bye-law
or alteration of a Bye-law shall have effect until the same shall have been
approved and confirmed by the Governor in Council, and shall have been
published for such length of time and in such manner as the Governor in
Council shall order.
* * * * *
324. TOWNS TO WHICH THE ACT APPLIES.—The regulations contained in the
above act have been made applicable to the following towns.
Proviso.
Adoni.
Anantapoor.
Bellary
Berhampore.
Bimlipatam.
Calicut.
Cannanore.
Chicacole.
Cocanada.
Cochin.
Coimbatore.
Combaconum.
Conjeeveram.
Coonoor.
Cuddalore.
Cuddapah.
Cumbum.
Dindigul.
Ellore.
Ghooty.
Guntoor.
Kurnool.
Madura.
Manargoody.
Mangalore.
Masulipatam.
Mayaveram.
Negapatam.
Nellore.
Ootacamund.
Palamcottah.
Palcondah.
Paulghaut.
Rajahmundry.
Salem.
Tanjore
.
Tellicherry
.
Tinnevelly.
Trichinopoly.
Tuticorin.
Vellore.
Vizagapatam.
Vizianagram
.
Wallajahpett.
NOTE.—It is proposed to include the following clause in the revised Act :—
" POWER TO ENTER AND CLEANSE BUILDINGS.—It shall be lawful for the Municipal Com-
missioners, at any time between sunrise and sunset, by themselves or their servants, on
giving such notice as hereinafter provided, to enter into and inspect all buildings, and,
by an order in writing, to direct all or any part to be forthwith internally or externally
lime-washed or otherwise cleansed for sanitary reasons ; and, if the owner or occupier of
such building neglect to do so within eight days from the time when such order shall have
been served upon him, the Commissioners may cause the same to be done, and the expenses
incurred shall be paid by the owner or occupier, and shall be recoverable as hereinafter
provided."
240
SANITARY REGULATIONS.
[SECT. X.
IX.—Conservancy (Dry Earth System).
325. Principles of Dry Earth Conservancy.—The power of dry
earth to render dormant decomposition in excrementitious
matters, and to keep latrines and urinals free from smell
is almost absolute. But certain conditions are necessary to the full deodo-
rant power of earth, and these are
—
I. Dryness.
II. Its application in sufficient quantity.
III. Its immediate application.
IV. Its reduction to powder.
V. The selection of a suitable earth.
326. DRYNESS.—TO secure dryness it is only necessary to procure and
store the earth in dry weather and protect it from wet. A certain amount
of moisture, as that taken up from the atmosphere, is not, in India, of practical
importance.
327. REDUCTION TO A STATE OF POWDER.—The state of division to which
the earth is brought is of importance. The more it is pulverized the better,
especially if it be required for use in self-acting closets. For general use in
latrines this fine state of division is not so necessary. Still screened and
sifted earth is more efficacious than that which has not thus been prepared.
Sufficient division is generally attainable without the use of sieves.
328. KIND OF EARTH TO BE SELECTED.—Earths vary in their deodorizing
powers. Hence selection is necessary. Soils rich in organic matter possess
the property in a high degree. Clays act better than loams and loams than
sand. The mixture of earth and ordure removed from the latrines, if dried
and kept dry, may be used over and over again. But omitting that compost,
the following soils may be enumerated in order of eligibility :—
I. Rich garden mould.
II. Peaty soils.
III. Black cotton soils.
IV. Clays.
V. Stiff clayey loams.
VI. Red ferruginous loams.
VII. Sandy loams.
VIII. Sands.
329. CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS.—Other conditions are essential to the effi-
cient working of the system. The most essential is dryness not only of the
earth but of the system. No water must be used in or about the latrines.
Any accidental dripping of fluids must be covered and absorbed by dry earth.
G. O., No. 1,376 of
10th April 1865, M.D.
SECT. X.]
SANITARY REGULATIONS.
241
The privy pans and other utensils must be cleaned and scoured with dry earth
—the floors of the latrines dusted with earth and swept— never washed.
330. RECEPTACLES FOR CONTENTS OF PRIVY PANS.—Receptacles, and pre-
ferably of iron, are necessary in the latrines to receive the contents of the
privy pans from time to time, and for removal of the compost to the carts.
The receptacles should be painted with coal tar inside.
331. DISPOSAL OF POUDRETTE.—The disposal of the mixture is generally
by burial in pits, the object being to get rid of it under ground as speedily as
possible. In many stations no commercial value attaches to the compost in
this country.
But actually it constitutes a most valuable manure, capable of being
immediately applied to the soil. It is, therefore, the duty of the authorities,
charged with the conservancy of Barracks, Hospitals, and Public Institu-
tions, to impress upon those interested, the value of this compost as a
manure, and so far as lies in their power to bring about its use as a fertilizer
of the soil, instead of wasting it by burial in pits.
332. MAY BE USED IN SOLDIERS' GARDENS.—Its utilization in Soldiers' gar-
dens may be sanctioned under supervision. It should be ploughed or dug into
the soil rather than spread on the surface. But the safest plan will be to pre-
pare lines of shallow trenches, such as the furrows made by the plough, to
deposit the manure in them, and then to cover it over. On irrigation, or after
rain-fall, the water will dissolve out any soluble matter, and convey it to the
roots of the growing plants, while the gases given off by decomposition of the
excreta will be absorbed by the soil and appropriated also by the plants.
Utilization of the contents of the pits in this way will not, it is believed, be
attended by any risk.
333. SITES FOR, AND CONSERVANCY OF, FILTH PITS AS THEY ARE TERMED.—
The selection of sites for deposit of the 'Poudrette' must be made, not only
i
with reference to distance from Lines and Barracks, but also with regard to
the nature of the strata composing the sub-soils and rocks.
The 'dip' or inclination of the beds, with reference to the direction of
lines of drainage of sub-soil waters, should be especially noted, and, in all
instances, sites on which the 'dip' of the strata is away from the lines should
be selected. This is necessary to secure the wells from contamination.
The levels and conformation of the surface do not always indicate the
inclination of the lower strata, so that it is necessary that some skilled know-
ledge should be brought to bear upon the subject of selection of sites for
deposit pits. This knowledge will be possessed by Engineer and Medical
Officers.
F
F
242
SANITARY REGULATIONS.
[SECT. X.
334. Coal-tar. —Coal-tar should be applied to all utensils used. It is
not a constituent part of the dry earth system, but it is an important adjunct,
and its use should not be neglected. All works in the privies and the walls
themselves, to the height of three feet, should be painted with it.
G. O. C. C., No. 30
of 30th March 1864
.
In all privies and urinals attached to European Barracks, the portions
of wall or flooring, liable to be soiled by urine or ordure,
shall be painted periodically, once in a week or ten days,
with fresh coal-tar, the quantity required and its application being ascertained
in communication with the Medical authorities of corps.
335. No LIME TO BE USED.—No preparation of lime should be used in the
flooring of urinals, nor should lime in any shape be used in their purification,
as it hastens the decomposition of urine.
336. PRINCIPLES ADAPTED FOR ANY BUILDING.—The foregoing principles
are applicable to any buildings used upon the dry earth system.
The system is a most elastic one, and by attention to the essential prin-
ciples already given, any latrine can be converted into a dry earth latrine.
All that is necessary to secure freedom from smell in the building is :—
That earth be added in sufficient quantity to cover and absorb solid
and fluid feculence.
That the application be immediate.
That the mass of earth and ordure be periodically removed.
This being understood, considerable latitude is given in the adaptation
of buildings to dry earth latrines. In fact, in the absence of privies, specially
designed for the purpose, the system is capable of being applied to any con-
venient building.
337. USE OF ASHES, OR CHARRED VEGETABLE MATTER .—Whenever convenient,
wood ashes, or partly used charcoal may be substituted for earth in latrines.
Ashes and powdered charcoal will absorb moisture most freely. In private
houses and establishments the refuse ashes of the cook-room will generally
be sufficient in quantity for the dryage of the excreta, whereby the expense of
carriage of earth to and fro for the purpose, may be obviated.
338.
Urine.—Fresh urine, if diluted with double its quantity of water,may
be used, at a distance of from 100 to 200 yards from Barracks and Hospitals,
to irrigate grass land. It is most conveniently applied by means of a portable
garden hose and pump. A proportion of carbolic acid, one dram to each five
gallons of fluid, may be added in hot weather to the urine tubs, to arrest decom-
position. If this mode of disposing of urine be adopted, the urine tubs should
be half filled every morning with clean water and kept clean of all deposits.
339. URINE TUBS MAY BE FILLED WITH EARTH.—If the plan of dealing
with urine alluded to in the foregoing para. is not adopted, the urine tubs should
SECT. X.]
SANITARY REGULATIONS.
243
be filled half full of earth, and when the earth is saturated by urine, the con
- t e n t s o f t h e t u b s s h o u l d b e s p r e a d o u t t o d r y , a t s o m e d i s t a n c e f r o m B a r r a c k s
or Hospitals. When thoroughly dried the earth may be used in the same way,
several times over, when it becomes a most valuable manure.
340. DRY EARTH CONSERVANCY TO BE ADOPTED GENERALLY.—Dry earth con-
servancy is to be adopted in all Barracks, Hospitals, Jails, and public Insti-
tutions, subordinate to the Madras Government, when the means of carrying
it out exists.
X.—Water-supply.
341. At every Military and Civil Station, the principal sources of water-
supply shall be carefully conserved, and all water in general use for drinking
purposes shall, from time to time, be subjected to chemical analysis with the
view of detecting changes therein which may be injurious to health. The
requisite apparatus for the analysis of water will be kept at the principal
stations, and Medical Officers will be appointed to conduct the analyses.
Qr. Mr. Genl.'s Cir.
No. 9,689 of 18th De-
cember 1866.
342. " GUINEA WORM."—With the view to the prevention of the disease
known as " Guinea Worm," it is directed that the
ground around all wells in Military Cantonments be
paved, and that the waste water that falls on the so paved
circuit of wells shall be carefully conveyed by drains to a distance.
G. O. C. C., No. 52
20th June 1866.
343. MARCHES—WATER BUCKETS.—Galvanized Iron Buckets, each capable
of containing five gallons of water, are allowed for the
use of European troops on the march ; they will be issued
in the proportion of one to each Staff Serjeants', Hospital, and Family tent,
and two to each Privates' tent.
344. FILTERS.—Chatty filters, the filtering media consisting of layers of
sand and charcoal, are allowed for Barracks and Hospitals. The sand and
charcoal should be changed periodically, to render filtration efficient.
XI.—Contagious diseases. (Act XIV of 1868.)*
An Act for the Prevention of certain Contagious Diseases.
Preamble.
Whereas it is expedient to provide for the better
prevention of certain contagious diseases It is hereby
enacted as follows :—
Preliminary.
Short title.
I. This Act may be cited as " The Indian Contagi-
ous Diseases' Act, 1868."
*NOTE.—This act is designed to control the spread of venereal diseases amongst the
civil population of large towns, where the provisions of Section 5 of Military Cantonment
Regulations cannot be enforced. The Act is at present in force only in the town of
Madras.
244
SANITARY REGULATIONS.
[SECT. X.
II. In this Act
— Interpretation-clause.
" MAGISTRATE."—" Magistrate" means any person exercising the powers of
a Magistrate or of a Subordinate Magistrate of the first class, and includes a
Magistrate of Police in a Presidency Town :
" CONTAGIOUS DISEASE."—" Contagious disease" means any contagious
venereal disease :
" BROTHEL-KEEPER."—" Brothel-keeper" means the occupier of any house,
room or place to, or in which women resort, or are for the purpose of prostitu-
tion, and every person managing or assisting in the management of any such
house, room, or place.
III. EXTENT OF ACT.—The places to which this Act applies shall be
such places as the Local Government shall from time to time, with the previ-
ous sanction of the Governor-General of India in Council, specify by notifica-
tion in the official Gazette. The limits of such places shall, for the purposes
of this Act, be such as are defined in the said notification, and may from time
to time, with such sanction as aforesaid, be altered by a like notification.
Unregistered Prostitutes and Brothel-keepers.
IV. PUNISHMENT OF UNREGISTERED PROSTITUTES AND BROTHEL-KEEPERS.—
In any place to which this Act applies, no woman shall carry on the business
of a common prostitute, and no person shall carry on the business of a brothel-
keeper, without being registered under this Act at such place, and without
having in her or his possession such evidence of registration as hereinafter
provided.
Any woman carrying on the business of a common prostitute, and any
person carrying on the business of a brothel-keeper, without having been
registered as aforesaid, or without having in her or his possession such evidence
as aforesaid, shall, on conviction before a Magistrate, be punished with impri-
sonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine not exceeding
one hundred rupees, or with both.
Registration of Prostitutes and Brothel-keepers.
V. LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE RULES FOR REGISTRATION AND APPOINT
OFFICERS.—The Local Government shall make rules for the registration of
common prostitutes and of brothel-keepers, and shall appoint officers for the
conduct of such registration, and may, with the previous sanction of the
Governor General of India in Council, assign salaries and establishments to
the said officers. The Local Government shall also provide such books and
forms as may be necessary for the purposes of this Act.
Every woman complying with such rules (so far as they relate to prosti-
tutes) and every brothel-keeper complying with such rules (so far as they
relate to brothel-keepers) shall be deemed to be registered under this Act, and
the registering officer shall furnish her or him with such evidence of registra-
tion as the Local Government shall from time to time direct.
SECT. X.]
SANITARY REGULATIONS.
245
The name, age, caste (if any) and residence of every such woman and
such other particulars respecting her as the Local Government shall from time
to time direct, shall be entered in a book to be kept for that purpose.
The name and residence of every such brothel-keeper and the situation of
the house, room or place in which he carries on his business shall be entered
in a book to be kept for that purpose.
VI. CHANGE OF RESIDENCE.—Whenever any such woman changes her
residence, she shall give notice thereof to such person, and in such manner as
the Local Government shall from time to time direct, and the necessary
alterations shall be made in the said book and in the evidence of registration
furnished to her as aforesaid.
Any such woman failing to give notice as aforesaid shall, on conviction
before a Magistrate, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to fourteen days, or with fine not exceeding fifty rupees, or with both.
Whenever any brothel-keeper changes his residence or acquires or enters
into the occupation of any such house, room, or place as last aforesaid, other
than the house, room or place of which the situation has been registered as
aforesaid, he shall give notice thereof to such person, and in such manner as
the Local Government shall from time to time direct, and the necessary
alterations or additions shall be made in or to the said book and in the evi-
dence of registration furnished to him as aforesaid.
Any such brothel-keeper failing to give notice as last aforesaid shall, on
conviction before a Magistrate, be punished with imprisonments for a term
which may extend to one month, or with fine not exceeding one hundred
rupees, or with both.
Refusal to show Evidence of Registration.
VII. PENALTY FOR REFUSING TO SHOW EVIDENCE OF REGISTRATION.—Any
registered woman or brothel-keeper, who, without reasonable excuse, neglects
or refuses to produce and show the evidence of her or his registration with
which she or he shall have been furnished as aforesaid, when required so to do
by such officer as the Local Government shall from time to time appoint in this
behalf, shall, on conviction before a Magistrate, be punished with imprison-
ment for a term which may extend to fourteen days, or with fine not exceed-
ing fifty rupees, or with both.
Information of the class of officers for the time being authorized to make
requisitions under this section shall be furnished to registered women and
brothel-keepers, under such rules as the Local Government shall from time
to time prescribe.
Special Provisions relating to Brothels.
VIII. PENALTY FOR PERMITTING UNREGISTERED PROSTITUTES TO RESORT TO
BROTHELS.—If any brothel-keeper, whether registered as such under this Act
246
SANITARY REGULATIONS.
[SECT. X.
or not, has reasonable cause to believe any woman to be a prostitute, and not
to be registered under this Act, and induces or suffers her to resort, or be for
the purpose of prostitution, to or in the house, room or place in which he
carries on his said business, he shall, on conviction before a Magistrate, be
punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or
with fine, which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
Proviso.
Provided that nothing in this or any other section of this Act shall
exempt the offender from any penal or other conse-
quences to which he may be liable for keeping or being
concerned in keeping a brothel or disorderly house, or for the nuisance there-
by occasioned.
IX. BROTHEL-KEEPERS LEGALLY BOUND TO FURNISH INFORMATION. —Every
such brothel-keeper shall be legally bound to furnish information on any
subject relating to his business to such officers, and in such manner, and at
such times as the Local Government shall from time to time prescribe in this
behalf. Every such officer shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed
to be a pubic servant.
Examination of Prostitutes.
X. EXAMINATION OF PROSTITUTES.—The Local Government shall have
power to appoint persons to make periodical examinations of registered women
in order to ascertain whether, at the time of each such examination, they are
affected with contagious disease.
XI. LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY MAKE RULES As To EXAMINATIONS.—For each
of the places to which this Act applies, the Local Government may make
rules consistent with this Act respecting the times and places of examination
under this Act at that place, and generally respecting the arrangements for
the conduct of those examinations, and for recording the results thereof ; and
a copy of rules, purporting to be rules under this section, shall, if signed by a
Secretary, to such Government, be evidence of such rules for the purpose of this
Act.
REPORTS.—The Local Government may also require the persons
making such examination to send in reports to such persons at such times
and in such form as the Local Government shall from time to time prescribe.
PENALTY FOR DISOBEYING RULES.—Any person not a medical officer
appointed to make such examination, and any registered woman, disobeying
any rule made under this section, shall, on conviction before a Magistrate, be
punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one
month, or with fine not exceeding one hundred rupees, or with both.
XII. Certified Hospitals.—LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY PROVIDE AND CERTIFY
HOSPITALS.—The Local Government may from time to time provide any build-
247
SANITARY REGULATIONS.
SECT. X.]
ings or parts of buildings as Hospitals for the purposes of this Act. Any
building or part of a building so provided and certified in writing by a Secre-
tary to the Local Government to be so provided, shall be deemed a certified
Hospital under this Act.
CONTROL OF SUCH HOSPITALS.—Every certified Hospital so provided
shall be placed under the control and management of such persons as to the
Local Government shall from time to time seem fit.
XIII. MANAGEMENT OF HOSPITALS.—The Local Government shall make
regulations for the inspection, management, and government of the Hospitals
as far as regards women authorized by this Act to be detained therein for
medical treatment or being therein under medical treatment for a contagious
disease.
A copy of regulations purporting to be regulations made under this
section shall, if signed by a Secretary to such Government, be evidence of
such regulations for the purposes of this Act.
XIV. REGISTERED PROSTITUTES ON RECEIVING NOTICE TO GO TO HOSPITAL.—
Any woman registered under this Act shall, on receiving notice from any such
officer as the Local Government shall from time to time appoint in this behalf,
proceed to the certified Hospital named in such notice and place herself there
for medical treatment.
PENALTY FOR NEGLECT OR REFUSAL.—If after the notice is delivered to her,
she neglects or refuses to proceed to the said Hospital within the time specified
in the said notice, an officer of Police shall apprehend her and convey her
with all practicable speed to such Hospital, and place her there for medical
treatment.
XV. DETENTION OF PROSTITUTES UNDER MEDICAL TREATMENT.—Whenever
any such woman affected with contagious disease places herself or is placed
as aforesaid in a certified Hospital for medical treatment, she shall be detained
there for that purpose by such medical officer of the Hospital as the Local
Government shall from time to appoint in this behalf, until discharged by
him by writing under his hand.
Medical treatment, lodging, clothing, and food shall be provided gratis
for every such woman during her detention in the Hospital,
XVI. PENALTY FOR LEAVING HOSPITAL BEFORE DISCHARGE.—If any woman
authorized by such medical officer to be detained in a certified Hospital for
medical treatment quits the Hospital without being discharged therefrom by
the chief medical officer thereof, by writing under his hand (the proof
whereof shall lie on the accused), or
PENALTY FOR DISOBEYING REGULATIONS OF HOSPITAL.—If any woman autho-
rized by this Act to be detained in a certified Hospital for medical treatment,