108 A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
3. The following are the analyses of the military (most used) potable well waters, &c.,
as examined by the Government Analyser :—
MILITARY WELLS.
Analyses by Government Analyser.
Cholera year 1875.
Grains per Gallon.
Grains per Gallon.
Total Solid. Chlorine.
Free Ammo-
nia.
Albumenoid
Ammonia.
Royal Artillery, Well No. 1
...
39.20
3.97
. 0 0 6 5
.0021
Do.
do. No. 2
...
...
76.30
12.42
.0009
.0042
Do.
do. No. 3
...
...
...
...
49.70
5.46
.0018
.0063
These waters were all considered to be good in the Government Laboratory, Bombay, and
at Neemuch itself. The bazaar wells and river water were considered to be only fair, and
to require filtering. Yet the regiments (European especially) suffer much more in proper
-tion and in severity from cholera (every 3 to 5 years) than the inhabitants of the bazaar.
An exception has occurred in the 3rd Light Cavalry, which has not lost a single man
during two epidemics, though close to the Royal Artillery, which suffered so much last year
I have now to state, as summarily as the subject will admit of, the advances in sanitation.
(and which directly or indirectly affect the health of the regi-
ment) which have been made. The extensive system of
drainage which I recommended some years ago, but which was in abeyance, on account of
the serious expense which it entailed, has at last been commenced in earnest, instead of the
partial measures which were formerly resorted to. This system comprises the drainage of all
the black soil about camp (especially below the tank and about the barracks), into the two
nullahs which skirt the cantonment. These nullahs have been straightened and cleared
to some extent already, and wide cuttings have been made, sloping towards them, instead of
the semi-stagnant rivulets, which were in many cases quite inefficient. The trap tufa, on
which the cantonment is situated, has also been drained, on the surface, by open ditches of
sufficient depth, especially near the European barracks. They all lead to the larger cuttings,
which, by their regularity and smooth slope, traverse the parade-grounds not only without
injuring these, but actually improving their condition.
In the bazaar, lateral or central saucer drains, wherever the width of streets allow, are
being substituted gradually for the square deep stone ones (as being a better system). A
proposal to cover some large rain-water outfalls was negatived by the Cantonment Committee,
and, I think, properly so. Some further alterations of a sanitary nature were carried out,
both in the cantonment and the lines. In the cantonment a cesspool, outside the Commis-
sariat slaughter-yard, was replaced by iron receptacles for receiving the blood and flushing
water. In the bazaar, several small cesspools were treated in the same way. As sanitary
officer, I found some private wells in small courtyards not far from privies belonging to the
same enclosures. These were directed to be carefully paved, and the water in such wells
recommended not to be used by the owners.
All the public wells were recommended by me to be covered in, and to be flagged or
reflagged round their circumference. Saucer drains were recommended as very emergent
in the neighbourhood of all such wells. All these measures have been begun.
4. In the 3rd Cavalry lines, minutely described last year, the huts are altogether too
small and low; a committee recommended the raising of the floor-
ing of some of them, as water actually seemed to rise from the
ground. These huts are the property of the regiment, but it is impossible for men out of
their pay to build new ones. They are miserable as dwelling-places, and are eminently
unsanitary, as described in former years ; as also were the ventilation, bazaar, neighbouring
vi l l a ge s , s ur f a c e dr a i na ge , a nd t a nks .
Water.
Drainage.
Lines.
Conservancy and sanitary ar-
rangements.
5. Described last year. Sweepers are not numerous
enough, perhaps, but I could not get their number increased,
nor that of the conservancy carts.