41
POONA DIVISON OF THE ARMY.
Or in parts per million :—
Ammonia free ...
. . . . . .
. . .
. . .
.53
,,
albumenoid
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
.60
Oxygen required at 140˚F. . . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
9.32
It will be seen from the comparison between the two analyses that the amount of " free
ammonia" in the second sample of water at present in the tank is double the amount the
former water, and the " albumenoid ammonia" is also greatly in excess ; consequently, the
result of the cleaning out, as far as the unfiltered water is concerned, is a total failure. The
question as to where this contamination comes from is, I think, naturally enough answered.
Within the catchment area of this tank, as in all the others, there are 5 or 6 houses ; one
of these, which has been for a number of years, and up to within a short time ago, been used
as a dwelling-house, is on the western bank of the tank. When we take into consideration,
1st, the amount of im purities which daily find their way into the ground from these houses
during the whole year ; 2ndly, the number of years previous to this during which the
ground has been contaminated ; 3rdly, the rocky nature and the small depth of soil ; and,
4thly, and chiefly, the lack of drains for carrying off foul water from these and other houses
on the fort, it is not to be wondered at that the water is so impure.
The question that naturally enough arises is, why were not means taken to have drains to
carry away the foul water and other impurities, before attempting to clean the tank out ? A
committee was held here to consider this question, and a plan and estimate of the executive
engineer here for drains for all the houses sent to Government for their sanction. Dr. Lums-
daine, the Sanitary Commissioner, who was sent here by Government to report on the water-sup-
ply and the Mamoo Banja Tank in March 1876, made the following, amongst his other re-
marks :—" As the conditions of Assirgarh preclude the possibility of sewage contamination, it is
very certain that the sources of impurities are on the catchment area and within the tank itself,
and this being so, they may be greatly mitigated, if not altogether removed. To this end I
would suggest as follows, (a) the very strictest attention should be paid to the general conser-
vancy of the catchment area, more specially in the different compounds."
4. All the excreta from the fortress is lowered down at the south-eastern or seven gates
by means of a lift, and from there is carried away and thrown
into a ravine about a hundred and fifty yards away to the south
of the fort. This plan appears to answer its purpose very well,
and no unpleasantness has arisen from the practice.
The conservancy cart carries away, in its rounds every morning, all rubbish from the
houses and roads. The dry-earth system of conservancy is carried out here in all the latrines,
and by an order lately issued by the cantonment committee, every house latrine for
servants has to be supplied with pans of iron, which are to be sunk into the ground; the floor
of this latrine is to be made of moorum well rammed. The inhabitants of the bazaar in the
fort are obliged to use the native detachment latrines, which are about 100 yards to the
east of the native lines, and are divided off for males and females.
The latrines belonging to the hospital are about twenty yards to the east of the build-
ing, and afford accommodation for 5 people. Iron pans are provided, and these are about half
filled with earth, which is also used to cover the deposit. In front of the pans is a trench
built of masonry, which carries off the urine and the ablution water into a receptacle placed
outside. This latrine is well deodorized with Macdougal's powder, and always kept clean.
The latrines belonging to the State prisoners, of whom there are 7, are too near the
Sucker tank and well to be agreeable. Earthenware receptacles are provided for their use,
but I am afraid do not use them very often, but prefer to deposit their excretions on the
ground. There is a trench dug which carries away the water into a receptacle. I would
strongly suggest that these latrines be removed from their present site, which seems to be
well saturated with excreta, and removed to another place. The floor of the latrines in this
fort ought, I think, to be always built of material which will not allow of the sinking of water
into the ground, but of some resisting material as chunam, for it is an undoubted fact that
almost all the filth that finds its way into the soil sooner or later goes into one or other of
the tanks.
5. The native lines are situated along the south-western boundary of the fort, and consist
of 6 blocks of building, three deep, which face the Sepoy Tank, from which they are divided by
a narrow road. They consist of old closed-up pendals, and are built of mud and bamboo.
Each block is about 25 yards long, and about 10 yards deep. They occupy a space which, be-
tween the Sepoy Tank and the scarp.356 x 156 square feet. They have no verandahs, and.
space is very deficient. Each man with, in some instances, his wife and family, occupies one
room. The ventilation is extremely deficient •' they have no windows, and beyond the door
there is no means for the air to enter into the huts. The bazaar_lines are situated opposite to
B 196-11
Conservancy and sanitary
arrangements.