27
destruction of clothing; the early sepulture of all bodies of persons dead from contagi-
ous disease ; the due observation for a period of not less than five days of individuals, or
large bodies of men, arriving from localities, either far distant or known to be affected
by epidemic disease; the printing and general distribution of simple instructions, for
the treatment of premonitory symptoms, &c. and the gratuitous supply, through the
police or other suitable agency, of medicines suited for the check of the premonitory
or earlier stages of the disease.
The probable results of the
adoption of these principles.
Improved public health.
42. It is scarcely necessary for us to state that the foregoing must be con-
sidered as merely an outline of the leading points which re-
quire attention on the part of individual house-holders and
of the municipalities of the various towns in India. But we
cannot allow this opportunity to pass without recording our deliberate opinion that sys-
tematic attention to these points will, in time, be followed by such an improvement in
the condition of public health as would more than justify
any expenditure necessary to carry into operation the princi-
ples which we advocate. There is reason to believe that the normal health of the
rural and urbane populations in India would, in the absence of epidemic disease, bear a
not unfavorable comparison with that of other countries in more temperate climates,
Epidemic disease in crowd-
ed towns, during famine and
from want of European me-
dical advice.
43. It is to the prevalence of epidemic disease, which rapidly acquires viru-
lence in ill conserved native towns, that high mortality
is due, especially among a population occasionally exposed to
the depressing influence of famine and, in many cases, una-
voidably, not in a position to reap the advantages of Euro-
pean medical science. While therefore we gratefully record our sense of the vast impor-
tance of the measures which have recently been adopted in this Presidency to ward off
impending famine, or to liberally relieve existing distress, and while we regard the
establishment of civil dispensaries as of the highest possible importance, we would ear-
nestly urge upon Government the equally great necessity which exists for impressing,
upon municipal and civil authorities, the absolute necessity of causing to be enforced the
practical application of the principles we have laid down for the conservancy of towns.
Institution of broad streets
greatly required.
Their utility demonstrated
in Madras.
44. We would here again revert to the great importance of enforcing regu-
lations calculated to ensure the advantage of thorough ven-
tilation of populous localities. We now believe it to be un-
doubted that, in this city, the opening up of broad streets in various directions has result-
ed in a marked improvement in the health of those inhabiting
adjacent houses, and we are strongly of opinion, that in the
absence of municipalities, that power preventing the erection of houses, only separated
by narrow streets, should be granted to competent civil authorities under legislative
enactment.
II. MILITARY CANTONMENTS.
Rules for Military Canton-
ments.
45. In addition to the foregoing and other ordinary precautions, it will be
•necessary to prevent the entrance of troops or their families
if affected with contagious disease ; to enforce the exclusion of
bands of pilgrims and their diversion, if possible in a direction to leeward; to prevent
intercommunication between residents in cantonments and the inhabitants of adjoining