102
Poona.
Year.
1880..
Corps.
5/8th Royal
Artillery.
Period.
March to
June.
Actual Strength.
80
Average Annual Strength.
26
A D
Enteric Fever.
A D
Simple Continued Fever.
A.
1
D.
Febricula.
A.
2
D.
Intermitten Fever.
A.
60
D.
Remittent Fever.
A.
2
D.
All Fevers except
A.
65
D. A.
1
D.
1
A.
1
D. A.
85
D.
RATIO TER 1,000 ON ANNUAL AVERAGE STRENG
AD
Enteric Fever.
A. D
All Fever ex
cept Enteric.
A.
2,500 0
D.
Dysentery.
A.
38 5
D.
..
Diarrhœa
A.
38 6
D.
A.
3,269
In my opinion the cause of much of the disease which has rendered year
after year troops living at the barracks at Ghorpuri ineffective is to be ascribed
to the site selected for the lines.
In the first place the radical error has been committed of placing them
on the very confines of the cantonment. The jurisdiction of the General
Officer Commanding the Division only extends as far as Byroba's Nála which
adjoins on one part the compounds of the Officers' Lines.
On the far side of this nála extending between the Khadakvásla Canal and the
river there is for miles an extensive area under wet (sugar cane) cultivation. Over
these fields large quantities of manure containing a large proportion of human
excrement are spread. This cultivation is perennial, and vast volumes of water
are constantly thrown over the land, and in the early mornings a mist will be seen
to have formed over this tract. On the same side of Byrobá's Nála as the lines,
and in fact adjoining them but outside Cantonment limits, is the filthy village
of Ghorpuri. The inhabitants resort to the fields or to the nála for natural
purposes. Of course in the fields there is no sort of supervision. The owners
make what mess they please, they store what manure they please, and they are
practically out of the reach of any sanitary supervision.
In fact it must be acknowledged that extending from south through east
to north the whole of the country in the rear of the lines is in an insanitary
state.
The ground to the front of the barracks is also in my opinion malarious. The
soil on which they actually stand is doubtless moorum, more or less hard according
to site; but all round the front of the lines and to windward of the barracks is a
large area of red soil merging in places into black, and it is retentive of moisture.
During the monsoon, when there is but little sun to assist evaporation, the wind
passing over this area from the race course hill blows cold and chill and is driven
into the barracks, especially into the new ones which are nearest to it The
older barracks, although far inferior in design and construction, are more shel-
tered, and the men occupying them are said not to suffer as much as those who
live in the new barracks.
Then, again, the ground in front slopes down to the nála running past the
Native Infantry Lines, The bed of this nála has in parts silted up and is most
uneven. The banks in places have fallen in and impede the ready escape of
sub soil water. The ground above the banks has been wisely planted with mango
trees, but it will be many years before they attain sufficient size to form a pro-
tective barrier.
It is often said that on the site where the barracks stand the rock is close
to the surface. In places it undoubtedly is so, but it is not hard, compact trap
rock, but trap that is in process of disintegration, and that there is moisture in
the sub soil is manifested by the thick grass which in places grows in tufts.
The wash houses are attached to the verandah of the barracks and are
a source of dampness, whilst the wastage from these places flows into cisterns at
head of gardens. I regard this as most objectionable as the ground in the im-
mediate vicinity of the barracks is kept damp.