Conservancy.
Hospital.
117
BRITISH BURMAH DIVISION.
The drainage is partly natural and partly artificial; the latter is insufficient, the rains being
heavy and the soil not absorbent.
At "Aberdeen" there are three barracks, precisely similar to each other; they are about
70 feet above sea level, built of teak on 8 feet angle iron piles. They were quite clean and venti-
-lated by two doors 7' 3" × 3' 10" each and twenty-two windows 3' 10" square and eave ventilation.
Each barrack has likewise four corner-rooms for Native officers and a verandah on each side 12 feet
wide. Lighting is effected by two lamps in each barrack at night. Each barrack accommodates
forty men and is 110' × 20' × 13=28,600 cubic feet and 2,200 square feet, giving an average of 715
cubic feet and 55 square feet to each man during the year. Each corner-room has one door 7'-5" ×
3' 10" and three windows 3' 10" square. Each room is occupied by one Native or Non-commissioned
officer and lighted by one lamp. There is a fourth barrack not yet quite completed, precisely
similar to the others, but half as large again. The drainage is both artificial and natural, but is
insufficient, as the soil is non-absorbent and, during the monsoon like a quagmire. There should
be deep subsoil drains like those used to drain wet lands in England.
Sanitary condition of latrines, &c.— At " Ross" there are a guard-room, solitary cell,
cook-rooms, and latrines.
Sanitary
condition of
latrines, &c.
The guard-room is situated under barrack No. 1, the floor of which forms the roof of the
guard-room. It has three doors 5' 11" × 3' 11" and three windows, two of which are 4' × 3' and the
other 2'11" × 3'. The solitary cell is contiguous to the guard-room. It has only one door 5' 10" × 2'1"
and an open iron work ventilator 5" deep all round top of walls. There are three sets of
cook-houses, after the usual native fashion; they are all pucka-built, commodious, and well venti
-lated. There are likewise three sets of latrines divided into partitions and furnished with buckets
and tubs. The sanitary condition of all these buildings was good.
Rations excellent. The men cook for themselves. There is a sufficient variety with the
exception of vegetables, which are scarce.
Rations.
Water-supply.— From tanks and wells and of good quality. I have objected to the men using
the tank-water at Aberdeen, as it is collected from surrounding hills which are covered with
decaying vegetable matter in consequence of the clearing of the forest and jungle which is going
on. I have therefore requested the Commanding; Officer to order his men to discontinue its
use. No filters.
Conservancy.— At " Ross" conservancy is well attended to and the place is healthy.
At "Aberdeen" much requires to be done in the way of drainage and removing certain
swamps which have been artificially made by reclaiming land from the sea for paddy cultivation.
Water-supply
Hospital.—There is no hospital at "Aberdeen," the sick are removed at present to "Ross,"
which is only a short distance and a healthy place. It is proposed to build a hospital at
"Aberdeen," but I consider the present arrangement preferable, taking due precautions for the
protection of the sick from the inclemency of the weather in transit. The hospital at "Ross" is
an oblong teak building raised on piles 7 feet above the ground and forms the fourth side of the
barrack square. It consists of one main room above with a room underneath, which it is necessary
to occupy as the accommodation is too limited, but this is objectionable. There are four corner
-rooms above and four below. Those above are used as surgery and office, Hospital Assistant's
room and store-room; those below as bath and store-rooms and by hospital toty. The
main room has two doors 9' 11" × 4'11", one at each end, and two others at the sides which are
8'11" × 4'5"; there are likewise ten windows 3' 11" × 3'5" each, with an eaves ventilation six inches
deep all round and a ridge ventilation. The hospital was very clean and in good order, and has
one lamp burning at night. It measures 40' × 24' × 14' = 960 square feet and 13,440 cubic feet,
giving an average of 898 cubic feet and 64 square feet per man. The ground ward, the
walls of which are made of tatties, is 40' × 24' × 6' = 960 square feet and 6,080 cubic feet. It
is only used to prevent overcrowding above. The cook-house is partly wood and partly brick
with an iron roof, and is divided into two rooms 9 feet square, one for Hindus and one for
Mussulmans. It is kept clean and sufficiently ventilated. The latrine is situated just at the
side of the hospital and is 12' × 10' × 10'; it is a wooden building with venetian sides and wooden
floor, and is raised from the ground about 3 feet. It is divided into four compartments and was
in very good order. Dry-earth system carried out pretty well and excreta removed to mainland
daily. Tar is freely used. The drainage of the hospital is the same as the barracks.
Principal diseases.—The only disease requiring notice is ague. At Ross the men are very
healthy, but at Aberdeen they suffered much during last rains. At present they are healthy also,
and did not present an anæmic or scorbutic appearance. (I examined most of them.) Clearing the
jungle and want of drainage seem to be the chief causes of the sickness. Cholera has never
occurred at the settlement.
Principal
diseases.
30