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They are only imperfectly flushed every day—a six-inch drain flushed by a
water-pipe of an inch and a half running through an automatic flushing
cistern.
(g). To all these has been recently added the contagious ward which is
likely to be full of disease germs, the majority of them infectious and com-
municable to men throughout the year, and which is built on so unscientific
a principle that it is next to impossible to disinfect it properly even at three
or four times the ordinary cost; while its closeness and imperfect ventilation
afford a very fruitful nidus for the multiplication of the germs. It is most
unsafe for people to work in this place.
All the defects in sanitation have from time to time been brought to the
notice of the hospital authorities, but they do not seem to move in the matter.
I consider now it is hopeless to expect any improvements from them except by
active interference on the part of Government. Certainly the practice of throwing
excreta and stable sweepings in the compound should be at once stopped,
because it is as prejudicial to health as allowing the filth to collect from day to
day in the stables. It is only a matter of small extra expense, as the washing
can be removed in water-tight carts to Mahálaxmi or Kurla after consultation
with the Municipality, or the Municipality might be asked to do the same as is
done in the various mills, &c. The same thing should be done at least once a
day as regards the cesspools in connection with the privies. Arrangements for
paving the floor of the College privies to prevent soakage of water and for
constructing cesspools behind them, as well as the dissection and post-mortem
rooms, are now being made, and steps will be taken to get the cesspools cleared
daily and cleaned, and the contents carried out of the compound to their proper
destination.
The second point which requires immediate attention is to stop all decom-
posing matter in the form of cotton refuse from mills or dried fish residue being
brought in the compound for manuring the grounds to grow maize, cucumber
and beans during the rains. The growing of maize is also specially injurious to
health, as the long stalks and leaves prevent the rays of the sun from fully
playing on the ground. By stopping this cultivation the hospital authorities
will lose about Rs. 100 a year, which amount can easily be recouped by utilizing
the plot of ground for growing lucern or hariáli grass which, apart from being
no way hurtful to health, will afford excellent fodder for the animals and will
also supply the much felt want of practical botanical instruction to the students.
The compound should also be cleared of all useless trees, only the few large fruit-
trees being retained, and the ground should be filled with stones and made imper-
meable. All hollows in the compound should be filled up and sufficient slope
should be maintained from east to west so as to assist the natural configuration
of the place. If this be done, there is no chance of rain water collecting as the
hospital compound is on a higher level than the main Parel road.
The next thing requiring attention is the clearing of the filth from the
manure pit recently closed and filling the pit with stones. I am glad to note
that arrangements are being made by the hospital authorities to repair the old
horse stable, to examine the drains and, if necessary, to replace the under-ground
drainage by a surface one. But no permanent good can be expected unless the
drains are ventilated and examined and cleaned every few months. If this can-
not'be done, such drainage should totally be dispensed with. As for the conta-
gious ward, the sooner it is closed and utilized for some other purpose, or even
pulled down, the better. It is quite unsuited for the purpose for which it is
built, and if continued to be used for some time as such, the consequences would
be appalling.
I may be excused dwelling on these points in detail, but I cannot help doing
so, as already the results of the insanitary conditions described above have proved
disastrous to the employés both of the College and the hospital. This year, after
pluckily holding out for a long time, the late lamented Principal, Veterinary
Surgeon Steel, succumbed to liver disorder (abscess) acquired wholly in the
College. For when he joined the College he had never suffered from the slightest
liver disorder, nor from continued malarial fever, nor was he a drinker. He got