12
SANITARY REMARKS.
11. The following remarks give an abstract of matters which received attention
during the year :—
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 accom
-modation ; 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 are 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.
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 accom
-modation provided for them in or near the hospital enclosure. The Apothecaries
occupy some of the married quarters in the Parade barracks.
South Station hospital .—There is no accommodation for the Army Hospital
Native Corps 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 3 4/3 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