9
was good. There is some land under wet cultivation near the 2nd Infantry
Barracks which it would be desirable to drain and plant with trees, but this has
not yet been found practicable. The drainage of the barracks was improved: The
married quarters were clean and afforded ample accommodation, but some of the
roofs of the infantry quarters required repairs.
Kamptee. —The re-modelling of the infantry barracks was completed, and they
are now well raised from the ground, have broad verandahs, and excellent ventila
-tion. The new family quarters for the infantry are very good. It was proposed
to convert some of the old married quarters into a sergeants' mess. New cook
-houses and wash-houses were erected to the north-east of the barracks.
Rangoon.—The fourth section of the new barracks was completed.
Port Blair. —The stone barracks having been damaged by shocks of earth
-quake were strengthened by iron girders.
Hospitals.—The buildings generally were in good order, and their conservancy
received strict attention. At Kamptee the two station hospitals were amalgamated
at the close of the year, but the building now in use is said to be old and not equal
to modern requirements. A general female hospital was arranged for at Secunder
-abad, pending the sanction of the Government of India. At Rangoon a site for a
new station hospital was being excavated. The usual repairs to hospital buildings
were duly executed.
Guard Rooms and Cells .—No material changes are reported in these, and all are
said to have been in a satisfactory sanitary condition.
Latrines and Conservancy. —The inconvenience due to the limited latrine accom
-modation in Fort St. George was minimised by strict sanitary supervision. Dry
earth conservancy was carried out in all latrines in the command. General conser
-vancy was well attended to, and there have been no serious complaints of failure.
Baths and Lavatories. —The arrangements in these were satisfactory and the
supply of water ample. Where plunge baths exist they are much appreciated in
the hot season.
Drainage.—The Madras Municipality were again trying to put an end to the
long-standing nuisance in Fort St. George, caused by the discharge of fœtid sewage
from the main drain into the sea just outside the fortifications. The Deputy
Surgeon-General, Secunderabad, remarks: "One of the greatest defects in the
station is the total want of proper drainage from the town of Secunderabad. At
present the whole of the sewage runs by the back of the staff lines into the Husain
Saugor tank, by which the health of the neighbourhood is being fast ruined.
February the General was attacked with cholera, and in August the wife of the
European whom he left in charge of his house died of cholera; a lady two days
after returning from the hills was attacked and died of cholera. The stench arising
from the drain is sometimes overpowering." In the same station there are also
said to be various gravel pits, which on rain falling get filled with water which
becomes putrid as evaporation proceeds. In the other stations generally the
drainage was reported as satisfactory.
Lighting. —The lighting of barracks and hospitals was effected by kerosine
lamps, and was satisfactory.
Water-supply. —The supply of water has generally been sufficient and the
quality good. Every attention has been paid to the protection of the sources of
supply, and the water has been roughly analysed quarterly and the results submit
-ted to this office. The improvement of the water-supply at Bangalore was receiv
-ing the earnest attention of Government.
Cooking and Rations .—The rations generally have been of good quality and
well cooked, and there was no change in the scale. Kitchens were in good repair
as a rule.
Canteens. —These have been well regulated, and the buildings are, as a rule,
airy and well ventilated. The beer and porter supplied from the Nilgiri brewery
are said not to be approved of by the men. The infantry canteen at Kamptee