namely, that during the whole of the night—a period of some ten hours—there may be some
twenty different foci from which flies can carry about infected material, whereas, with the old
arrangement of one latrine per ward, there was only one. The whole system even with the most
scrupulous supervision and care, with all necessary adjuncts of plenty of water, washing platforms,
drains to carry off the water, is bound to be objectionable. In some jails, particularly in those
at Rajahmundry and Coimbatore, these are not adequate.
Inspections have shown that flies swarm round about the spot where these pots are washed
and these latter themselves constitute a danger.
Now the argument may be advanced that some such arrangement as this has been in force
for a very large number of years in all jails in India, and that a great deal of these so-called
sanitary dangers are in actual practice imaginary ; also that the health of the prisoners, broadly
speaking, is satisfactory. Up to a certain point I am prepared to admit the justice of this claim.
With careful supervision a great deal can undoubtedly be done to minimise the actual effect on
health; but as soon as infectious diseases like cholera and dysentery make their appearance,
the fallacy in this method of reasoning becomes apparent. A very good instance of this occurred
recently. Coimbatore jail has just been through an outbreak of cholera. The epidemic was
anomalous from the very first. That is, there is no doubt whatever that the water-supply of
the jail was in no way responsible for either the introduction or the spread of the disease.
Careful bacteriological analysis showed that the well water was pure, and that samples taken
from various hydrants scattered over the jail compound were pure so that no additional
pollution had been added in the distributary system. On several occasions the water was
examined for cholera vibrios with a negative result ; and yet, in spite of all endeavours, the
disease spread within the jail. It was only after the removal of prisoners from the jail to camps
in the garden, where, it must be observed, the same water was used without any method of purifica-
tion, that the disease began to abate. This epidemic has certainly demonstrated one point,
namely, the impossibility of eradicating a disease of this nature under the present sanitary con-
ditions. Consequently whatever may be said in favour of the present arrangements when no
epidemic disease is present, there can be no doubt that they utterly break down, when, by some
mischance, cholera has been introduced. This I consider to be a very serious impeachment of
our jail sanitation. This "fair weather" sanitation will not stand the test of adverse circum-
stances. I do not propose at this point to elaborate plans to remedy this state of affairs ; that
may be left to the Inspector-General of Prisons. Such common arrangements as (i) frequently
renewing the pots, (ii) providing each block with an outlet in the wall and doing the cleaning
in the garden, (iii) providing an adequate supply of washing-water, (iv) having the cleaning done
at as few places as possible and not in the block compound, will however be obvious to every one.
I venture however to submit that the separate cubicle arrangement has not yet reached a
sufficiently high sanitary standard as to be free from objection, and whatever the disadvantages
of the association ward may be, this latter was more sanitary than the modern arrangements.
I am inclined to think that if the separate cubicle system is to be looked upon as a standard
one in this Presidency, a very much superior form of building will be necessary, coupled with
a simple water carriage system for the removal of night-soil and urine from each cubicle.
This, I consider, would probably so increase the cost of the cubicle system as to put it beyond
the financial resources of any Government.
There are two things I noticed in the jails of this Presidency which I consider are very
likely to be at the root of a great deal of the ill-health that is occasionally observed in
each jail. I refer to the nature of the eating and drinking utensils, and to the way these are
kept. The utensils consist of a drinking pot, shaped something like a lotah, and of a basin, both
of which are made of sun-glazed earthenware. This material, being absorbent, can never be
properly cleaned or dried. In every block of a jail a row of these utensils will be found
on the ground, day and night, and in all weathers ; the basin placed over the drinking pot.
Any time up to two hours before meals are served, the caste water-bearer goes round and fills
up the drinking-pots which are again left on the ground covered up by the basins. When the
prisoners are seated for their meals the food is distributed to each man. On completion of meals
each man washes his own dishes and replaces them on the ground, the basin over the drinking
pot, where they remain till the next meal. I consider this system is open to very many sanitary
objections. First of all I disapprove of the use of earthenware receptacle for food because they
are absorbent and difficult to get quite clean. Secondly, I do not consider it a sound arrange-.
ment that these pots be allowed to remain on the ground. Even though the basin be put over
the pot, in windy weather a large amount of dust will find its way into the utensils and adhere
to their damp surfaces.
Each man should draw his own drinking water from a tap immediately prior to sitting
down to his meal. The filled pots should not be allowed to stand an hour or two on the ground
even though they be covered up with the basins. Add to this that it is quite common to find
these pots retained on the ground within 80 or 100 yards of the latrine and the spot where all
the night-soil latrine pots are washed, and I consider these objections have much real weight.
It is, I consider, another instance of what may be called " fair weather " sanitation. As long
as no epidemic of dysentery' or cholera is prevalent in the jail there is no very great likelihood of
the inhabitants suffering. But once let such a disease be introduced and we find, that even with