26
substances and especially exerementitious matter, are all essential to maintaining a
pure condition of the atmosphere. The conservancy, from impurity, of all water stand-
ing and running, and the institution of surface and subsoil drainage, must also be
attended to ; the last two points being essential to prevent the emanation from the soil
of deleterious gases calculated to render the air impure, and, for the same reason, the
removal of all manufactories, likely to constitute nuisances or act prejudicially to the
public health, must be insisted upon.
Water supply how to be
protected from contamina-
tion.
38. The provision of a water supply not liable to be injuriously affected by
the contamination of surface or subsoil; the examination
of all well-water used for drinking and cooking purposes,
with a view to its purity being ascertained or its use discon-
tinued if proved to be impure ; the removal, from the vicinity of wells used for these
purposes, of all cesspits, sewage drains, cart stands and places of public interment of
dead bodies; the disinfection and burial, at a distance from all water supply, of all
cholera and other excreta requiring immediate disposal; the conservancy of rain-water
in suitable reservoirs when it can be collected from clean gathering grounds, water
sheds, barrack roofs, &c, are all matters of the highest importance.
The foregoing subjects need,
not be reiterated.
39. The foregoing points need not be again adverted to in the following
detailed observations; but they must be accepted as the
preliminary essentials to the institution of any complete
system of sanitation, whether this is to be adopted in the
limited space of ground attached to individual buildings or in the wide area of a popu-
lous city or cantonment.
Several of the measures
here recommended are not
novel.
40. In defining the several measures, the adoption of which we would re-
commend under the several conditions specified in para. 32,
we are aware that we are reiterating many recommendations
which have already been submitted to, and approved and act-
ed on by, the several Governments in India; but we are unwilling to omit them from
what may, we hope, prove the basis of a code of regulations calculated we trust to
eventuate in the almost complete extinction of this, most fatal, disease. We are appre-
hensive that under these circumstances the omission of any precautionary measure
might imply a question on our part as to the propriety of its enforcement; while a de-
tailed system of sanitation is more likely to be readily accepted, and willingly carried
out, if submitted in complete and systematic form.
1. OUTLINE OF MEASURES OF SANITATION FOE THE PREVENTION AND CHECK OF EPIDEMIC
CHOLERA IN CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNS.
General principles of Con-
servancy of Towns.
41. In addition to the measures detailed in paras. 32, 33 and 34, which are
simply the first principles of sanitation, attention to the fol-
lowing subjects will be requisite (where they are practicable) in
order to secure immunity from epidemic disease:—house con-
servancy, including drainage of basements ; removal of excreta, periodical lime-washing,
daily cleaning out of all dust bins, removal of bath, cooking and waste water; adequate
ventilation; the removal of all cattle from human habitations and the provision of suitable
means either domestic or public, for personal ablutions ; the examination of all articles
of food ; disinfection of all houses inhabited by persons suffering from the disease; the