MILITARY DEPARTMENT, 18TH MARCH 1890, No. 2026.
BANGALORE DIVISION INCLUDING BELGAUM AND CEDED DISTRICTS.
The general health of the troops in the division has been good.
The sanitation of the barracks and buildings connected therewith has been satisfactory.
In Bangalore the proximity of the Native bazaars to the Parade and Ulsoor barracks
is in many respects objectionable, as they are far from being in a proper sanitary condition.
The barracks afford ample and well-ventilated accommodation, the inner verandahs of all are
occupied as sleeping apartments and are provided with designation boards showing the cubic
space which is ample. These verandahs have always been used as dormitories. The urinals
attached to the parade barracks are insufficient considering the strength of the battalion now
occupying them, and it seems desirable that one should be erected in rear of the library and
another on the spare piece of ground between the swimming-bath and the cook-house. The
latrines occupy a position on either flank of these barracks and afford sufficient accommodation,
but the distance of the central blocks from them is very considerable (363 yards). An additional
latrine for the latter would be a great boon and convenience if it were found practicable and
not encroaching upon the parade grounds or the main public road. A further extension of
the surface drainage of the Infantry and Cavalry barrack grounds on a scale similar to that
which has been carried out in the Artillery lines is very necessary. The nullah in rear of the
Pensioners' lines and adjacent to the Royal Horse Artillery lines is in an insanitary state. It is
recommended to be filled up and a proper drain constructed for about half a mile from the lines.
The open nullah between the Pensioners' lines and the South Station Hospital is used as a latrine
by the Natives. This objectionable practice is due to imperfect police supervision.
The coffee-shops of the Cavalry Regiment are amply provided with almost every description
of eatables procured from Europe. Those of the Infantry Regiments were not so well supplied
and admit of considerable development.
In any health report of Bangalore the drinking-water supply must occupy the foremost
place, as it has been for years past the subject of almost continuous consideration. So much
has already been said on this subject that it would not serve any useful purpose to dwell upon
it further than to say that everything is being done by way of filtration and boiling to render
it as fairly potable as possible. It is, however, very important that the distribution of the
drinking water here and in all other cantonments should be effected by casks with openings at
the top sufficiently large for cleansing, or by zinc buckets in place of puckals and mussacks.
An order of Government in the Public Works Department, No. 25 W ., dated 8th January 1889,
has approved of the proposal that the drinking-water supply be obtained from sources outside
the Bangalore cantonment, and estimates are now being prepared having that object in view.
North Station Hospital.—The latrines have been furnished with fixed seats in place of the
old-fashioned closed stools. A great inconvenience has arisen from the fact that the hospital
staff and Army Hospital Native Corps have no accommodation provided for them in or near the
hospital enclosure. The apothecaries occupy some of the married quarters in the parade
barracks.
South Station Hospital.— T h e r e
i s n o a c c o m m o d a t i o n f o r t h e A r m y H o s p i t a l N a t i v e C o r p s ,
who are obliged to live in some instances two miles distant from the hospital. There are no
pegs in the wards for hanging patients' helmets on.
The necessity of extended surface drainage applies equally to the grounds of both hospitals.
Belgaum .—There is a marked deficiency of surface drainage all over the cantonment
here also.
The ventilation of latrine 34/3 of Royal Artillery barracks and that of the Infantry barracks
is bad and ridge ventilation is necessary. The floors are of clay, and it is very desirable that
they should be concreted or covered with some other impermeable material. The Sergeants'
Mess and Billiard-room of the Royal Horse Artillery require additional ventilation by windows
and openings near the roof. The large natural drain or nullah situated between the Infantry
barracks and hospital, into which a considerable portion of the surface drainage runs, requires
to be cleared out, deepened and, if practicable, made pucka. The Infantry privies—two in
number, one at each flank of the barrack buildings—are a considerable distance (about 250
yards) from the central block. A light privy of corrugated iron suitably paved and ventilated
might with great advantage and convenience be erected near the central rooms. The lavatories
in the old barracks are in a dilapidated condition and are urgently in need of repair or
reconstruction.
The reading-room of the new Infantry barracks is scarcely large enough for the require
- m e n t s o f t h e t r o o p s . T h e f l o o r s i n t h e v e r a n d a h s o f b l o c k s o f f a m i l y q u a r t e r s a r e m a d e o f c l a y .
Asphalte or concrete is recommended to be substituted.
Fort Barracks — The Hospital Bungalow used as Quarters for the Troops .—Surface drainage
is much needed all round this building and outhouses. The latrine is structurally defective
and objectionably placed as regards the men's rooms, and it is recommended that it should be
removed altogether. The disused mortuary could at small cost be converted into an excellent
privy.
All barrack rooms, canteens, coffee-shops, lavatories, cook-houses, urinals and privies are
much in need of additional ventilation by ridges and openings in the walls. The surface
drainage around all the buildings is very imperfect.
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