11
three wells and also the water from the Vehár-supply-taps in the compound,
and circulated to each individual member in a collected form, the matter which
they were called upon to review, eventually met on the 27th February 1892. On
the main points at issue the Committee were, it may be said, unanimous, and all
were of the opinion that there was a very grave necessity for immediate remedial
measures being adopted. The President read an introductory paper, which he
had drawn up, dealing in a most able manner with the relations between the
college and hospital and what had led up to the present crisis. The views he
took and the way in which he handled the different points during the discussion
which followed left nothing to be desired. In the first instance, there appeared
to be some slight difference of opinion between the members ; but the lucid way
in which the President explained details soon brought them to be of one mind.
The Committee resolved as follows:—
1st.—That the Committee find from the information placed before them
that the death-rate for Parel for the past ten years averaged 31.35 per 1,000
against 27.27 per 1,000 for Bombay.
2nd.—That while this rate is higher than desirable and is 4.08 per
1,000 higher for Parel than for Bombay, it is less than shown by the Sani-
tary Commissioner for the cities of Ahmednagar, Sholápur, Ahmedabad,
Karáchi, &c., for the year 1890.
3rd.—That with the information before them the Committee are not
prepared to condemn the Parel district, and consider that with due atten-
tion to the sewerage, drainage, water-supply, and latrine accommodation,
Parel should become a very healthy suburb.
4th.—That as regards the state of the premises belonging to the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and containing the Bai
Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital and the Bombay Veterinary College,
a separate statement (Appendix B*) is attached, showing the opinion of the
Committee on certain important points.
5th.—That in addition to the points referred to in the statement, it is
desirable that measures should be taken in the future, whenever practicable,
to relieve the crowding in the area now occupied by the wards, by removing
and re-constructing at another site at least one out of the present row of
wards.
6th.—That it is desirable that the former isolation ward should no
longer be used as a ward owing to its position to windward of: the college,
and to the unsuitability of its construction, and the Committee further re-
commend, that the building containing the dissection room and mortuary
should be removed from its present position which is also to windward of
the college.
7 th.—That as regards vegetation the course suggested in paragraph 9
of the accompanying statement (Appendix B*) should be followed.
8th.—That if the modifications shown in the statement (Appendix B*)
are carried out, the Committee consider that the premises concerned would
be much, improved, and they consider also that at a very moderate expendi-
ture the premises and surroundings can be speedily placed in an efficient
state as regards sanitation. With due attention, this efficiency may be
maintained, but without constant care good results cannot be permanently
secured.
9th.—That there is not sufficient evidence available to justify the Com-
mittee in giving an opinion as to whether the conditions of the hospital and
college and its surroundings can be held in any way responsible for the
sickness and mortality of the college and hospital staff.
10th.—That as regards the Native establishment and Native students,
there is no evidence of excessive sickness or mortality, and that while the
European members of the staff have suffered considerably, the Committee
* Vide Appendix I.