( 4 )
prepared; estimates are drawn up; and cleansing operations are carried out
under the supervision of the members of the Board. The operations consist of
the cleansing of the village sites, the conservancy of the village, the removal
of filth and rank vegetation, the filling up of ditches, and the like. The
experiment is an exceedingly interesting one, and the Lieutenant-Governor
hopes that it may have a future before it.
11. The Sanitary Board also continued the enquiry into the septic system
for the disposal of sewage. In circular No. 18T.—M., dated the 25th Novem-
ber 1900, Government advised caution in the adoption of this system pending
the outcome of certain bacteriological experiments which were being made.
These experiments were completed during the year under review, and
though their results showed that the effluent from a septic tank was not free
from pathogenic organisms, nor of sufficient purity to be discharged with
safety into any possible source of water used for drinking purposes, the conclu-
sions were sufficiently favourable to justify the conviction that the septic
method, if introduced with proper precautions, was a considerable improvement
on the old systems of disposal of night-soil by trenching, and it is clear that it
obviates to a large extent the nuisance caused by the passage of conservancy
carts through the streets of a town. After weighing all the evidence, the
Lieutenant-Governor considered that the system had passed beyond the experi-
mental stage, and sanction was accordingly given to the Muzaffarpur Munici-
pality to construct a septic tank. As this is the first municipal venture of the
kind, its results will be carefully watched, and the experience attained should
prove a valuable guide to other municipalities in Bengal.
12. The Lieutenant-Governor has examined with satisfaction the un-
mistakable evidence contained in Statement I appended to the Sanitary
Commissioner's Report that marked improvement has in certain cases followed
the introduction of water-supply and drainage schemes. In one or two
instances, however, apart from plague, the reported results are less satisfactory
than might have been anticipated, and the Lieutenant-Governor would be
glad if in his next report the Sanitary Commissioner would give his own
opinion regarding such cases.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
L. P. SHIRRES,
Offg. Secy. to the Govt. of Bengal.
No. 1463T.—M.
COPY forwarded to the Sanitary Commissioner, Bengal, for information. His
attention is specially drawn to the remarks contained in paragraphs 9 and 12.
No. 1464T.—M.
COPY forwarded to the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Bengal,
for information, with special reference to paragraph 5.
Circular No. 18T.—M.
COPY, with a copy of the Report and of the Returns, forwarded to all
Commissioners of Divisions, for information and communication to all District
Officers and Municipalities in their respective Divisions.
No. 1465T.—M.
COPY, with a copy of the Report and of the Returns, forwarded to the
Inspector-General of Police, for information.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
W. C. WOODMAN,
Under-Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal.
DARJEELING,
The 30th June 1903.
B. S. Press-707C—1,390-13-7-1903—T. N. R.