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 the 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 adjoining, 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 suspicious 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, Cannanore, Calicut and Malapuram.
The health of the troops at Wellington and Calicut has been good, at Cannanore
bad, 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 proceeds, an ill-smelling plot of ground over which
the wind blows at certain periods in the 24 hours direct towards the barracks."
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.
The gymnasium at Wellington has not sufficient roof ventilation.
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 treatment of special cases.
The Deputy Sureon-General reports that "some place of shelter for troops
passing through, sufficient for the temporary accommodation of about 100 men is
urgently required, owing to the number constantly passing to and from Burma; at