4
At Secunderabad, Bangalore, Malapuram and other stations the drinking of bazaar-made
liquors is ascribed by the various Medical officers as a probable cause, while at Kamptee, the
Deputy Surgeon-General mentions the great difficulty in getting pure milk. It has often been
found watered, and it is scarcely necessary to observe that, not unfrequently, outbreaks of
enteric fever in England have had their origin traced to the drinking of milk diluted with a
contaminated water.
BANGALORE DIVISION INCLUDING BELGAUM AND CEDED DISTRICTS.
The Belgaum District was transferred to the Medical administration of the Bangalore
Division on the 1st January 1887, while Trichinopoly and Wellington, which were previously
included in this division, are now in the Southern District.
The general health of the troops in the division has been good.
The sanitary state of the barracks and buildings connected with them is reported as
having been satisfactory. Exception is taken to the situation of the Ulsoor barracks by
Surgeon-Major Lewer who states that they are too close to the Ulsoor Native bazaar, the
sanitary state of which is often doubtful. They have also not sufficient basement.
The hospital accommodation has been sufficient and sanitary arrangements effective. The
South Station hospital is described by Deputy Surgeon-General Tarrant as being somewhat
defective in sanitary requirements, as compared with the more recently constructed hospitals.
Of the Station hospital, Belgaum, the Senior Medical officer reports that there is great
need for a prisoners' ward, no special room being available, the building originally set apart
for this purpose having been appropriated by a clerk of the Meteorological Department.
The drainage of the barracks has been satisfactory. At Bangalore, a small drain was
constructed during the year to carry off water from the Sergeants' mess, Royal Horse Artillery,
and the drain leading from the married quarters of the Royal Artillery at Agram was extended
further into the country.
The sources of the Bangalore water-supply are the Ulsoor tank and Dhobies' wells adjoin
-ing, the water being pumped from them by steam power and filtered before distribution, through
iron pipes, to barracks, hospitals, &c.
The Ulsoor tank source is reported as unsatisfactory, as the neighbourhood of the channels
feeding it has been found contaminated by human excreta and other filth which is washed into
the tank by the first heavy rain of the south-west monsoon. The western or chief feeder runs
through the Cantonment bazaar and is the main surface drain from that direction.
Surgeon-Major Lewer, speaking of the water, says:—"It is pronounced to be very suspi
-cious or bad in quality from the amount of animal matter it usually contains."
Before use by the troops, in addition to the filtration which it undergoes at the Ulsoor Water
works, it is boiled and again passed through Macnamara filters.
At Belgaum, the water has been good, but some of the wells ran dry during the hot
weather; however, the supply was sufficient.
SOUTHERN DISTRICT.
The recently-constituted Southern District embraces the stations of Wellington, Canna
-nore, Calicut and Malapuram.
The health of the troops at Wellington and Calicut has been good, at Cannanore bad, and
at Malapuram indifferent.
The sanitary state of the barracks at these stations is reported as good; at Calicut and
Malapuram there has been occasional overcrowding for short periods on the occasions of troops
passing through during the monsoon season when tents could not be used.
Surgeon-Major Major, speaking of Cannanore, says:—"There is a low-lying piece of ground
about 800 yards to the east of the barracks into which the bazaar and cantonment drainage
empties itself, and a portion only escaping by overflow into the sea, leaves—as evaporation pro
-ceeds—an ill-smelling plot of ground over which the wind blows at certain periods in the 24 hours
direct towards the barracks."
The gymnasium at Wellington has not sufficient roof ventilation.
At Wellington the slaughter-house has been removed from near the bakery to a more
distant and suitable site.
The canteen at Wellington, which was close and ill-ventilated, is being enlarged.
EASTERN DISTRICT.
The general health of the troops has been good. The sanitary condition of the barracks
is reported as having been satisfactory. The recently converted Artillery barrack in Fort St.
George affords excellent accommodation.
The Senior Medical officer of the Station hospital, Madras, reports that the position of the
hospital is bad, owing to its proximity to the main road and to the river Cooum, which is a
polluted stream during the greater part of the year. As a building, however, it seems well
adapted for requirements, with the exception that some small wards are required for the treat
-ment of special cases.