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MYSORE DIVISION.
The inhabitants of the lines do not enjoy the amount of cubic space which we con
-sider necessary for health ; but they are not overcrowded according to native ideas and
customs. There has been no overcrowding in guard-rooms or hospital.
The drainage of the lines is as defective as it can be, and this is another cause of the
prevalence of zymotic disease. In the old lines there is no drainage, but these are in the
course of removal. The new lines are laid out in straight or slightly curving streets with
yards in front, and a narrow channel cut in the soil running parallel with the huts, which
receives the sewage from the huts and yards. These channels fall into large channels at
right angles with the streets, which, in the rainy season, carry away the storm water and
sewage into the valley below ; but in the dry season the sewage stagnates in the channels
in front of the huts, or sinks into the ground. Some of these channels are on a dead level, so
that the sewage cannot flow off; but even a good fall would fail to prevent the soil being con
-taminated with sewage. Some materials impervious to moisture must be laid down to con
-duct the sewage away from the huts. I have ascertained that stone-channels would cost
about Rupees 8 per yard, so that is out of the question. I have already mentioned in
other reports what I propose as a substitute, viz., bricks half a yard long <illegible> shaped, thus
fitting into one another to form a continuous line ; the surface to be glazed or tarred.
These bricks are now being made in the jail at a cost of 8 Annas a yard, and I am con
-fident that the expense of glazing, cementing, and laying down would not bring the total
cost to more than 12 annas a yard.
There are two water-courses which, arising on the slopes of the valley, unite at the
bottom in the swamp before mentioned, from which a single stream carries off the surplus
water through a break in the valley to the westward. This swamp I consider to be the
cause of much sickness. It has been drained as far as possible during the last three months,
and the ground has been cultivated with the sun-flower plant. The health of the troops
and families has certainly much improved since this was done, but whether from this cause
time only will show.
The lines were formerly imperfectly cleaned : heaps of manure and rubbish were found
here and there, but at my request these were removed, and the surface is now very clean.
The sanitary condition of the latrines has been much improved. The sepoys have been
induced to use the dry earth, and the urine now falls into tarred iron-buckets instead of
sinking into the soil. But the buildings are unsuitable for the purpose, and during the rain
the dry-earth system cannot be carried out for want of store-houses for the earth.
The state of the water-supply has been before mentioned. The bad water is no doubt
a very potent cause of disease.
Deputy Surgeon-General Ranking, who inspected the corps in November,
reports as follows :—
Regimental Lines.—Less progress than was anticipated has been made in the new lines
for this regiment. Sixty huts have been added to the accommodation, leaving 38 to complete
that for the wing which is all that this regiment is held responsible for. The accommoda
-tion for the other wing is to be completed by the relieving regiment. The drainage and
sewage of the new lines is defective, and must continue so till permanent drains are
sanctioned. Dr. Andrews has given constant attention to this subject, and in his capacity
as Superintendent of the Jail has manufactured V -section drain tiles or bricks of the
dimensions x l'6"6" as shown in the marginal sketch which promise to answer the
purpose, and which he estimates could be laid down perfectly cemented at the joints for
half a rupee the running yard. Certainly these lines will not be complete, the drainage
will not be satisfactory, nor due provision be made against sewage saturation of the soil,
till impermeable drains are provided. The general conservancy of the lines is well cared
for ; night-soil is removed from the domestic and public privies by contract ; that is to say,
a contractor is paid 38 rupees a month to remove it, instead of; as at Bangalore, paying for
the privilege of removing it. The utilization of the soil as a manure is said not to be
understood here, but there is a suspicion that the contractor does effect a sale of it to the
ryots and planters.
Conservancy.—The general conservancy of the fort is well cared for ; but the drainage
from the officers' cook and bath rooms is not so good as it might be. The drains do not
appear to have sufficient fall, and water lodges, while the floors and sides are in places out
of repair, and percolation goes on. Complaint was made to me by one of the officers of a
collection of sewage near his quarters, and on looking into the matter, I found it was one
which could be remedied by the mutual consent and action of the parties interested, the waste
waters being led away to and utilized in garden ground. Still, I think, the Executive
Engineer should be required to give his attention to the general drainage and sewage of the
officers' quarters. The elevated position on which the fort stands admits of any gradient
being given to the drains, and with these natural advantages there ought to be no lodgement
of sewage within the fort walls.
Regimental
Lines.
Conservancy.
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