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55. While on the subject of sanitation, I must request your
attention to a matter of a totally different character, but one which
nevertheless exercises a distinct bearing upon the health of the
community who are subjected to its influence—I mean a super-
abundance of trees, and an excessive and neglected state of vege-
tation in and around towns and villages. The towns I have
specially in view, when making this remark, are those of Tarusha,
Mehur, Larkhana, and Jacobabad. With regard to the former
it cannot be seen even when close upon it owing to the number of its
trees. In fact it is completely smothered in them, and these have been
suffered to increase to such an extent that not only is ventilation
seriously impeded, but an abundant source of malaria is engendered
by the excessive vegetation, and which, especially in and around the
native gardens, does not seem to be under the slightest check or
control. Larkhana is not quite so bad, but in Mehur I observed
that, in addition to the numerous trees, several of the gardens in the
town were so much overgrown and unheeded that the word “jungle ”
would be a more appropriate term to use in speaking of them. When
reporting on the military hospitals in Sind, and adverting specially
to the ones at Jacobabad, and the manner in which the temperature,
moisture, and excessive overgrowth of trees affect the health of the
troops at that station, I particularly alluded to the evil which in
my opinion is caused by the enormous amount of trees which are
allowed to grow there ; and when referring to the malaria which
hangs about the Cantonment, especially towards the months of Sep-
tember and October, I remarked as follows :—“ This would doubtless
be dispersed in a great measure if even a moderate breeze prevailed
during this time. But scarcely a breath stirs, and what there is
is prevented permeating camp by reason of the multitude of trees
abounding on every side. To give an idea of the extent to which
these have been permitted to increase, I may mention that on look-
ing round from the roof of the residency, a height of between 6O
and 70 feet, not a house or object could be discovered, dense and
interminable mass of foliage presented itself to the eye. While freely
admitting that trees, paticularly in a climate like Sind, are of im-
mense value, as a protection from the fierce rays of the sun, in
lowering the temperature of the atmosphere, i.e ., during the day time
only, for at night they prevent free radiation and consequently
retain the heat, and in various other ways administering to the
comfort of the inhabitants, yet, like many other good things, a too
great abundance is often as hurtful as having too little ; and in this
matter of the trees at Jacobabad, I think Horace’s wise maxim of
Modus in Rebus has been disregarded. And the result is exclu-
sion of breeze, hot muggy nights, retention of too much moisture,
increasing the malaria already in excess, and in addition preventing
its escape by the screen which they interpose above and around.
Were one-half the trees removed, the remaining ones would be of
themselves sufficient to afford all the shade which is requisite,
and yet admit of some circulation of air taking place during the day
as also of radiation of heat after sunset.”