161. SIND DISTRICT OF THE ARMY.
nullah, is inadequate to the quantity required, as was experienced last year, just before the
annual rise of the Indus. The water at this time was so low and muddy that it was quite
undrinkable without the aid of filters; in fact, had the overflow of the river been later than
i t was, we should have had no water; as it was there was a scarcity.
Happily, the main source of the water-supply in these three wells is not confined to the
nullah, the adjoining ground and plains contribute the largest share; being covered for a
considerable time by the inundation, they store up the water, which continually percolates
through the soil and gravel into the wells. This was demonstrated practically on one occasion
when the wells were being cleaned out; a stone near the bottom of one of these fell out, and
the water dashed in from the direction opposite to the nullah before alluded to, causing the
speedy exit of the persons inside.
A point with reference to these wells that I should wish to bring forward, is their liability
to pollution by the natives, as they are unprovided with any appliances for raising water—the
bheesties and other natives who frequent these wells have no other resource than to lower their
own vessels, which, I am afraid, are often not too clean, by ropes, thus, probably, imparting to
.
the water contamination which it could not receive were a proper apparatus afforded for rais-
ing the water. I conceive it to be quite probable that vessels taken from a house infected by
dengue, and lowered into these wells, may cause that disease to spread by means of the water
taken from them, in the same way that many epidemics of cholera have been discovered to
propagate themselves along the lines of human intercourse.
The mere pecuniary cost of erecting three pumps, one in each of the wells, would probably
be sufficient to protect the water, and thus to cut off most likely one of the causes of the
spread of disease. I merely suggest this remedy, in the event of there being any official
obstacle to the furtherance of the new scheme for the water-supply; for, of course, I need not
say how far preferable it would be to have the water conveyed through pipes direct from the
Indus or Foolali, nor add how essential it is that the station should receive an original supply
of pure and wholesome water; but I would urge the necessity, with all deference, of having it
conveyed through closed channels to the people who are destined to consume it, so as to
avoid any contamination. This would not only be the means of preventing much sickness,
but would also help to enable the medical officers to ascertain to what extent the spread of
infectious diseases in this station may be attributable to this cause.
Should the proposed new scheme be carried out, I believe that the importance of the
water being taken direct from the pipes for drinking purposes, cannot be overrated; as, by
doing so, the water could not, by any possibility, become polluted by native dipping-vessels,
or other sources of impurity, to which wells in this country are so liable.
Should this new scheme be effected, I consider it very probable that, in the event of an
outbreak of cholera occurring in the station, it would, at any rate, prove an effectual means of
checking its progress to some extent at least, if not of altogether arresting its further deve-
lopment amongst the troops and inhabitants.
• Another important point which the consideration of the water question involves, is the
manner in which malaria and other poisons become introduced into the system. No doubt,
the question of having the water carried through pipes in the manner just mentioned, would
be of great interest in connection with the prevalence of fever which, I am convinced, too
often results in Haidarabad from drinking bad water.
In face of so many pre-existing causes of sickness in Haidarabad, the water question, it
appears to me, should be all the more urgently considered, as it must necessarily involve so
many serious consequences.
The water in these wells was analysed in 1869, and was found to contain a large amount
of organic matter.
The Royal Artillery and 66th Regiment are supplied with drinking water from Jacob's
tank; in this instance there is an appliance for raising the water, a Persian wheel being used
for this purpose in addition to which the water is filtered. It would be my great wish to have
the 2nd Belooch Regiment provided with filters; this, I have no doubt, would greatly tend to
decrease the number of admissions into hospital, Simple filters, consisting of chatties contain-
ing charcoal, would not be productive of much expense, but certainly of much good.
Conservancy.—The Dry-earth system is the method of conservancy in use in the regi-
ment; this is carried out by eight sweepers, and nightsoil is removed in carts every evening
and morning between the hours of sunset and sunrise; during the day the carts are not allowed
to go about. The sewage matter is removed to a nullah about two and a half or three miles
distant from the Belooch hospital. It was in contemplation, some six months ago, to introduce
the Trench system of conservancy, instead of the mode now in use in the regiment, and official
enquiries were set on foot respecting the advisability and method of carrying this out, when
it was found that every thing was against the practicability of the proposed project, while
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