Ventilation
and drainage
for the men's
huts, &c.
Any nuisance
during year.
Water-supply
Duty and
exercises.
23
NORTHERN DISTRICT.
parade ground is very slightly elevated at its centre and at its north side, but sufficiently
so to ensure the free passing away of storm water. The soil is dark loam, much infested by
white ants.
The place of arms is very clean, but the stone pavement is very irregular from the
blocks having been badly laid, and also much worn. The ventilation is good when the
doors are open. There are no windows. The drainage is by natural configuration of the
ground and sufficient.
There is no latrine near the place of arms and guard-room. The men resort to the
ground at the north or rear, on which are mounds of earth and broken bricks, the remains of
regimental lines. No nuisance can be detected near the place of arms, and the air in the
neighbourhood is pure.
A latrine with earthen walls could easily be erected fifty or sixty yards behind the
place of arms. The ground there is waste and clear all round.
The lines are one-third of a mile from the north-east corner of the parade ground, and
are built on ground which has a decided slope from west to east, in which direction the rows
of huts are placed. The general appearance of the lines is very satisfactory. The huts are
on raised platforms. The courts are on the street side, and have good pials. The walls
are of mud, well whitewashed, and the roofs are tiled. Ventilation is deficient, as it always
is in regimental huts. The drains at each side of the streets are unlined, and have become
shallow, by filling up with sand. The soiled water from the courts runs into these drains
by drain tubes passing under the pials, and accumulates in some places. Men are at work
deepening the drains, straightening and embanking their sides. I have recommended that
pits be dug at the bottoms of the drains, where the soiled water issues from the courts, and
a bamboo spout be fixed in the conduit under each pial. If a tarred chatty is placed in
each pit, the house drainage will be caught and can be carried away and deposited at a
distance daily. This arrangement will be for the hot season. In the rains the decided slope
of the drains must carry all nuisances rapidly toward the low ground between the lines
and the Maharajah's tank on their east side.
There are no public latrines in or near the lines. Indeed there are none in the canton
-ment. Yet odors of nuisances are not noticed anywhere. There are eight scavengers
attached to the regiment, and they clean the street and drains daily. The men, as well as
the women, resort much to the latrines in the corners of the courts of the huts. These
latrines are cleared by female toties employed by the families.
Water-supply.— There are three wells in the lines, and others in the neighbourhood.
One well close to the left wing lines has very good water for drinking, and a sentry is
always over it to prevent the water being wasted. The water of the other wells is not
considered as good. The wells are at present thirty feet deep to the surface of the water,
and water is abundant even in this long drought. Filters are not required.
Water-supply.
Head-Quarters and Right King of 31st
Regiment Right Infantry.
The head-quarters and wing of this corps were stationed at Berhampore in
1872, and during the first quarter of it Surgeon A. L. Hackett held medical
charge. He was succeeded by Surgeon, M. E. Murphy, who reports as follows:—
Climate.— A drought existed until the south-west monsoon set in on the 13th June.
The climate has since been very good. 25.85 inches of rain accompanied the south-west
monsoon, and 23.5 inches the north-east monsoon. No appreciable influence on health or
disease.
Climate.
Diseases.— Chief diseases of the district are ague, beri -beri, and rheumatism.
Diseases.
Ventilation and drainage, for the men's huts, guard-rooms, & c.—The huts are too
crowded together and too small for the general number of inmates (families): are kept clean.
The drainage from each hut is collected in a chatty, which is placed under the house drain.
The draingae is removed daily to a good distance. The chatties sometimes overflow. Stone
drains are much required.
Any nuisance during the year.—None, except that regarding chatties for reception of
drainage. It has been mentioned in every report for years.
_
Water-supply.—The water-supply in the cantonment continued sufficient in the early
part of the year, when the rest of the district suffered more or less from a mild drought.
Subsequently the water has been abundant and wholesome.
Duty and exercises.— The duties are light and not prejudicial to health. In the hot
season there are only three parades weekly, each of one hour's duration, from 5-15 to 6-15
A.M. In the cold season there are about five parades weekly, also of one hour's duration, i.e . ,
from 6 to 7 A.M.
Vaccination.— Every sepoy has been vaccinated after enlistment. No small-pox
during the year. Re-vaccination could not be performed during the dengue epidemic and
the marching of the regiment.
Vaccination.