NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
REPORT
ON THE
SANITARY CONDITION
OF THE
CANTONMENT OF DHARWAR,
INSPECTED IN AUGUST 1876.
The new Military Cantonment of Dharwar is situated at about the dis-
tance of a mile and a half to the north-west of the town on a site to the west
of the Belgaum road from which the ground slopes down towards a nullah by
which the surface drainage is rapidly carried off to two artificial tanks. The
surrounding country is quite open so that the buildings in the cantonment are
fully exposed to the prevailing breeze, and cultivated fields extend all round the
camp which covers an area of 331½ acres and is only of sufficient extent to
accommodate one regiment of native infantry. It was occupied for the first
time by H. M.'s 12th Regiment N. I. on the 1st November 1875. The officers'
bungalows are situated on the higher ground near the Belgaum road towards
the east and are separated by the parade ground and an open space from the
lines and the regimental hospital.
2. The lines consist of two blocks of pendalls divided by a main central
road 160 feet wide. The native officers' houses are situated on either flank, 8
being along the right and a similar number on the left flank, and in each block
there are 16 rows of pendalls, each of which contains 20 rooms 10' 4" x 9' 9" for
married sepoys and 24 rooms 9' 2" x 9' 9" for single men. The rooms are built
back to back and each room has a verandah 8' 6" X 4' 6 " . The plinths are 6
inches high and the walls which are composed of mud are 10 feet in height whilst
the ridge is 16 feet above the floor, which is made of mud. The roofs are single
tiled and ventilating openings have been provided in them for each room. The
doors are 5' 8" in height so that a man can stand upright in them. Each married
sepoy's room has therefore a superficial area of 100 square feet and a cubic
capacity counting to the top of the external wall of 1000 cubic feet. In reality
it is more as the above calculation does not include the lean to of the roof.
3. The drinking water is derived from three wells dug in the metamorphic
schist on which the cantonment stands. One of these wells is set apart for the
use of the officers and the other two are for the use of the sepoys, one being for
Purwaries. They are situated between the lines and the nullah referred to
above. The Purwaries' well is 85' deep and is 170 yards distant from the place
where the trench latrines for the use of the men are placed. This system is
remarkably well carried out under the energetic orders of Colonel Hogg, and I
was much struck with the entire absence of any smell and pleased to see that the
trenches were not too deep, and that the ordure was at once covered with earth.
2
The latrines too are in my opinion placed at a convenient and safe distance from
the lines, being about 300 yards from the nearest row of pendalls and not more
than 750 from the farthest.
4. The regimental bazar is on the south-west corner of the lines and
was very clean, but the burial ground for natives dying in cantonment limits has
been placed in very dangerous proximity to it, only 70 yards intervening between
it and the bazar whilst the sweepers' huts are only 44 yards distant from it.
This burial ground should at once I think be closed, and Colonel Hogg has
selected a site for a new graveyard, which I consider to be a very good one,
though it is beyond the limits of the cantonment. It is situated in the field
immediately behind the present rifle butts and below the hill on the other side
of which is the small village of Yetingood. There would be ample space here
for a cremation ghaut for burying the bodies of Hindoos of caste as well as for a
burial ground for each caste, and I strongly recommend that the land be taken
up for this purpose.
5. The lines were remarkably clean and well kept, and there was ample
evidence to show that great attention is paid to their sanitary condition. The
conservancy establishment consists of four regimental and two station sweepers,
but in addition to this eight sweepers are kept up by the Native officers and men,
four of whom are employed in removing the dry sweepings and four are engaged,
in conveying the nightsoil to the trenches, where the filth from the European
officers' houses is also taken.
6. The following is the strength of the regiment :—
N a t i v e O f f i c e r s .
H a v i l d a r s .
D r u m m e r s a n d F i f e r s .
R a n k a n d F i l e .
B h e e s t i e s .
B o y s .
'
T o t a l .
16
40
16
640
8
24
744
The families and followers amounted to
Men.
Women.
Children.
Total.
Soldiers' Wives .
...
305
...
305
„
Children
...
...
422
422
A uthorized followers
17
...
. . .
17
Families of followers
. . .
18
20
38
Inhabitants of Bazar and Officers' Servants
57
36
36
129
74
359
478
911
3
7. The hospital is a good building in every respect and is intended to
accommodate 30 men. It was very clean and well kept. I think, however, the
place which I was informed was intended for a bathing place is used as a urinal
and the arrangement did not seem to me to be a good one either in design or
construction. In my opinion also the infectious disease ward is in too close
proximity to the Belgaum road and it is too much enclosed by walls and not
sufficiently ventilated. I think pucka buildings for the treatment of infectious
diseases are a mistake. There is no well for the hospital, and Dr. Ogilvie pointed
out the necessity of one being provided. I quite concur in this opinion. The
dead house has not as yet been built.
S. From this brief description of the sanitary state of the cantonment of
Dharwar, it will be seen that every thing has been done to render it healthy and
to keep it clean, and that its general condition is from a sanitary point of view
extremely satisfactory. Colonel Hogg informed me that had his regiment
remained in the station, it was his intention to have planted. trees throughout the
cantonment especially in front of each row of pendalls, and I hope this admirable
suggestion will be carried out. The difficulty regarding the wastage water from
bathing places was observed here as in all sepoy lines, and I am of opinion that
detached places to be used as lavatories for men. and women should be provided
on either flank, and that the use of nanees inside the rooms should be prohibited.
The practise of bathing and washing clothes also near the wells should be stopped,
and proper washing troughs might be provided at the lowest part of the canton-
meat so that the water might escape at once into the fields. In any case surface
drains to carry away the storm water and as long as they are permitted the
water from the nanees should be made along each row of pendalls. The bath-
ing water might, in the meantime, be utilized for gardens.
9. I must mention in conclusion that the registration of births and deaths
which occur in the cantonment should be reported direct to the Sanitary Com-
missioner. This has not as yet been done through, I am sure, an oversight.
T. G. HEWLETT,
Acting Sanitary Commissioner.
Military Department.
Bombay Castle,
No. 5054.
22nd November 1876.
Letter from the Sanitary Commissioner, No. A.-991, dated 7th November 1876.
Forwards a report on the sanitary condition of the new Cantonment of Dharwar. States
that he forwarded it to the Officer Commanding the station for any remarks the Cantonment
Committee might have to make, but that it was returned to him without reply.
RESOLUTION. — A copy of the report to be forwarded to the Quarter Master
General and the Surgeon General, Indian Medical Department, for any remarks
they may desire to offer.
2. A copy to be also forwarded to the General and Public Works Depart-
ments.
J. A. M. MACDONALD, Colonel,
Secretary to Government.
Military Department.
Bombay Castle,
No. 155.
16th January 1877.
Letter from the Surgeon General, Indian Medical Department, No. 38, dated 9th.
January 1877.
With reference to Government Resolution No. 5054, dated 22nd November last
forwards remarks on the sanitary condition of the Cantonment of Dharwar by Surgeon-Major
Ogilvie, in medical charge H. M.'s 12th Regiment N. I., and states that he has no remarks
to make.
RESOLUTION.—A copy of the report to be sent to the Sanitary Commis-
sioner, with reference to Government Resolution No. 5054, dated 22nd Novem-
ber last, and to the Public Works Department, with reference to para. 10 of the
report.
2. A copy to be also sent to the General Department.
J. A. M. MACDONALD, Colonel,
Secre tary to Governmen
No. 76 OF 1876.
FROM
SURGEON-MAJOR C. F. OGILVIE, M.D.,
H. M. ' s 12TH REGIMENT N. I.,
To
THE DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL,
INDIAN MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, P. D. A.
Dharwar, 13th December 1876.
SIR,
In reply to your memorandum No. 3567, dated 30th November, calling upon
me for any remarks I may have to make upon the report on the sanitary condition
B 2 2 1 — 1 D
of the cantonment of Dharwar by the Acting Sanitary Commissioner, I have
the honour to state, with reference to paragraph 7 of the report, that I have
never detected any one using the bath as a urinal.
2. It is possible the smell which Surgeon-Major Hewlett detected actually
came from the iron pan into which the sepoys lit hospital pass urine, inas-
much as this pan is placed only a few yards from the bath.
3. This iron pan contains dry earth, and my orders are to have fresh
earth placed in it every two hours or oftener, if necessary.
4. The bath is constructed according to the revised standard plan for
Native Infantry Hospitals, recommended in1871.
5. One of the two wards for the treatment of infectious diseases is very
near to the Belgaum road, but considering the amount of space available, I do
not think this could have been well avoided moreover their size is such that
only two or three patients should be treated in each, and in the event of a
serious epidemic occurring, a large kutcha building would have to be erected, or
the patients would require to be treated in tents on a more favourable site.
6. The position of the hospital and buildings was determined by a Com
- mittee ordered to be assembled by the Officer Commanding Dharwar.
7. I quite agree with the Sanitary Commissioner that kutcha buildings are
to be preferred for the treatment of infectious deseases as they can be de-
stroyed after they are no longer required. But I think that small pucka built
wards, similar to those we have, are very useful for the treatment of a solitary
ease of small-pox or cholera into which the patient can be placed at once.
8. At the present time I have a solitary case of small-pox under treat-
ment. Had there been no infectious ward, this man would have been placed
in a tent, and the tent would be destroyed when the man is discharged from
hospital.
9. The bath has not yet been used, for the hospital was not ready for the
reception of sick until the beginning of the last monsoon.
10. I would again earnestly recommend that a well be at once provided
near the hospital. It might be built as a famine work in the same manner as
other relief works are now being executed. The nearest well to the hospital
is nearly half a mile distant.
11. The dead-house will be commenced to be built shortly.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
(Signed)
C. F. OGILVIE, M.D., Surgeon-Major,
H. M,'s 12th Regiment N. I.
Military Department.
Bombay Castle,
No. 1340.
26th March 1877.
Letter from the Quarter Master General of the Army, No. 19-51-1299, dated 20th
March 1877.
SIR,—Referring to Government Resolution, Military Department, No. 5054, dated 22nd
November 1876,. forwarding a copy of the Acting . Sanitary Commissioner's report on the
Cantonment of Dharwar, I am desired, by His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, to state
that the site recommended by Dr. Hewlett for a Native burial ground has
p a r a . 4 .
been adopted.
2
2. A plan and estimate for the construction of a well for the Native Infantry hospital
has been submitted to Government under this office No. 22-12-1291,
Para.7.
dated 20th instant.
3. The question of providing general lavatories in sepoys' lines is under consideration;
and the Officer Commanding at Dharwar has been instructed to give
P a r a . 8 .
effect, as far as practicable, to the remainder of the suggestions contained
in para. 8 of the Acting Sanitary Commissioner's report.-1 have, &c., BU RROWS, Briga-
dier-General, Quarter Master General.
RESOLUTION.—TO be communicated to the Sanitary Commissioner, with
reference to Government Resolution No. 5054, dated 22nd November 1876.
J. A. M. MACDONALD, Colonel,
Secretary to Government.
REPORT
ON THE
CANTONMENT OF SHOLAPUR,
INSPECTED IN SEPTEMBER 1876.
The greater part of the old military Cantonment of Sholapur including the
Sudder Bazar, Modee Khana and Cavalry Lines, was transferred to the civil
authorities in 1871, and is now under the control of the Municipal Commissioners
of the adjacent City, whilst the old artillery lines on the south-west of camp
have been pulled down and the site on which they stood has reverted to the
jurisdiction of the Collector of the District. The Cantonment as at present
defined covers an area of about 600 acres and affords only sufficient accommoda-
tion for the location of a single Native infantry regiment. The walled Fort
of Sholapur which is adjacent to the City is still in charge of the military
authorities.
•
2. The line of the present camp limits has, in order to effect the changes
mentioned above, been very considerably modified from that previously existing
and is now most irregular. Starting from the North-east corner near where the
Kumbharee road crosses it the boundary line passes toward the West and
includes part of the catchment area of the Sideshwar tank. The northern face
in this direction extends for about half a mile until it approaches the Sudder
Bazar, when it takes a bend at an acute angle to the South, and in so doing skirts
the Sudder Bazar as far as the line of the Officers' compounds where it again
stretches towards the West in an irregular line until it meets the nullah carry-
ing off the water leaking through the bottom of the Moti Bagh Talao and from
the springs which arise below it to a point nearly opposite Teekajee ke Warra
at a distance of about 400 yards below the South-east corner of the cemetery.
The southern boundary of camp is formed by this nullah and by the road leading
from the Moti Bagh to the Bijapur road from which the line is continued to
the point opposite the North-eastern corner whilst the parade ground of the
Native infantry regiment forms the eastern face. The road to Kumbharee as
I have stated skirts its eastern boundary whilst that to Bijapur passes from
North to South through the Cantonment and is carried over the embankment of
the Moti Bagh Talao which is approached by a bridge over the G. I. P. line
which, after leaving the railway station at a distance of rather more than a mile
from camp on the West, passes near its Southern limit and crosses the tank just
on the confines of the Cantonment.
3. The country on the east is quite open and at a higher elevation than the
Cantonment and forms part of the catchment area of the Sideshwar tank.
Whilst that on the South is also open and uncultivated and forms the watershed
of two nullahs across which the embankment of the Moti Bagh Talao has been
made. On the North is the Sudder Bazar below which on the West the road
has been formed below and through the embankment of an old tank which was
destroyed by order of the Emperor Aurungzeeb who converted it into a garden
and called it the Nawee Bagh by which name it is still known though there is
2
now only a plantation of babul trees to mark the site of the former garden .
This road leads to the Collector's bungalow and so on to the city and on the west
of it is the present civil station. On the South-west, commencing from the old
race course is an extensive Government koorun or bir for grass which is said to
cover an area of 500 acres. The station is very bare, the soil being in places
not more than 2 inches deep, and the only trees in it are those planted along the
roads except in the valley of the Moti Bagh Talao where the garden from which
the tank derives its name is situated and where there are many magnificent
tamarind, mango and peepul trees. Immediately below the embankment of the
tank the ground is marshy and swampy, and the rank sedgy rushes that grow
here so luxuriantly show that this condition is perennial.
4. The Officers' houses are situated on the ridge immediately above the
Moti Talao and the regimental lines occupy the parallelogram towards the east.
These have been built on the highest part of the Cantonment and the site is in
this respect a desirable one, as there is a good fall from it on the North, South
and West and the country is open all round.
5. The strength of the 19th Regiment which now occupy the lines is as
under—
Native Officers.
Rank and File.
Bheesties.
Boys.
Total.
13
610
7
23
653
and the population including women and children is shown below :—
Men.
women.
Children.
Total.
Strength of Regiment as shown above
653
. . .
. . .
653
Native Officers' Families
1
12
32
45
Soldiers
46
255
225
526
Followers and inhabitants of Bazar
14
52
30
96
Total
714
319
287
1,320
6. The lines face North and South and consist of 32 blocks of tiled
pendalls divided into two by a central street 150 feet broad. Each division
contains 8 rows of two blocks of pendalls and on either flank of each row is a
Native officer's house. Each block contains 48 rooms which are placed back to
back so that 24 rooms have a northerly and the remaining a southerly aspect.
The size of a married sepoy's room is said to be 11' 6'' x 17' and that of a single
man's room is 10' 6" X 17'. These figures include the verandahs. The walls are
built of mud and the external ones have a few holes made in them which how-
ever were seen to have been almost invariably closed. The roofs are partly
single and partly double tiled. The plinths vary from 1½ feet to 3 feet in height
and the height to the ridge is 15 feet and that of the front wall is 11 feet whilst
the Verandah wall is only 6 feet in height. The doorways measure 5 ' 6 ' . The
cubic space for a married sepoy is stated to amount to 2,346 cubic feet and for a
single man 2,160 cubic feet. In a corner of each verandah is placed a stone on
7
25. I must also notice that the burial grounds for all castes and creeds of
persons living in the Cantonment have been allowed to be established over the
bank of the nullah immediately below and adjacent to the English burial ground.
I consider the site is an improper one, as in the first place there is not sufficient
soil for each grave to be dug for a depth of 6 feet and in the next it is to wind--
ward of camp, and there is plenty of space available on the South-east beyond
the Tower of Silence on the watershed of a nullah running towards Hoolgee.
This spot would be most convenient for the sepoys, but it is at present not within
Cantonment limits, but application should in my opinion be made that a sufficient
area of ground be given up for this purpose.
26. All the bungalows in Sholapur are covered with thatch, and I am
informed that this material if well laid in the first instance will last for 20 years.
I am of opinion that this covering for roofs is prejudicial to health, as it admits
of no perflation, and is besides liable to catch fire readily and it must be con-
tinually undergoing decomposition. It would therefore be desirable whenever
opportunity offers to compel house owners to roof their houses with double tiles
leaving ventilating openings in the roofs. The windows also of many of the
bungalows I saw were, in my opinion, too small and the atmosphere in some of
the houses appeared to me to be close whilst the plinths did not seem to be
sufficiently high. It would be desirable if a standard bungalow for Officers
adapted to modern ideas could be devised which whenever the Cantonment
Committee had occasion to condemn an existing house should be erected in its
stead. Some such action I think is necessary for, as far as I see, the Officers of
regiments upcountry are completely at the mercy of house owners and are
compelled in some stations I have visited to live in houses which are not fit for
human occupation.
27. In concluding this report, I would desire to express my best acknow-
ledgements to Colonel Price, Captain Trench, and especially to Major Mathew,
R. E., for the aid and information they so kindly afforded me.
T. G. HEWLETT,
Acting Sanitary Commissioner.
Sanitary Commissioner's Office,
Camp, Poona, 12th October 1876.
STATEMENT of INCOME and EXPENDITURE of Cantonment Fund since
1st April 1872.
•
Camp, Sholapur, 25th September 1876.
Receipts.
Amounts.
Expenditure.
Amounts.
Rs. a. p.
Rs. a. p.
In 1871-72
No record. In 1871-72
No record.
In 1872-73
575 0 0 In 1872-73
604 0 0
In 1873-74
3,277 9 5 In 1873-74
2,955 13 8
In 1874-75
913 12 4 In 1874-75
1,033 1 11
In 1875-76
1,160 8 0 In 1875-76
975 2 3
Balance on 1st April 1876
13,294 13 8
(Signed) R. TRENCH , Captain,
Staff Officer, Sholapur.
EXTRACTS from Proceedings of the Sholapur Cantonment Committee,
held at Sholapur on the 1st November 1876.
3. With reference to the Sanitary Commissioner’ us report on the Canton
- ment, the Committee make the following remarks :—
Lavatories are impracticable for sepoys and their families, but the alterna-
tive suggestion, viz., carrying off the bathing water by means of paved gutters
is feasible, and should be adopted.
The gutter round the new well is ample for letting the wastage water escape,
but at times it gets filled with sand, ashes, &c., from the sepoys washing their
vessels, &c., on the pavement. This practice has been put a stop to, and care is
now taken that the gutter is kept free from refuse of all kinds.
The Committee agree with the Sanitary Commissioner on the subject of the
removal of the latrines.
With reference to the subsoil drainage on the East face of the lines, the
Committee desire further detailed explanation, as the wells below may run dry
if the source be cut off.
Plans and estimates for a dead house have repeatedly been sent in but
Government refuse to sanction the expenditure. The solitary cells in the hos-
pital compound have only once been used during the last 3 years, it is therefore
hardly necessary to remove them.
The condition of the Sudder Bazar has been repeatedly brought to the
notice of the Civil Authorities and the matter reported to higher authority.
There is a well with good drinking water inside the Fort besides an enclosed
tank. This is ample for all requirements.
As regards the clearing out of the Moti Tank, Mr. Grant, C.S., Collector
of Sholapur, recommended that it should be undertaken as a Famine Relief
Work, and the Committee consider it a good suggestion.
The marsh in the Moti Bagh is not to windward of camp, as stated by
the Sanitary Commissioner, except during the monsoon.
The Executive Engineer will consider the matter regarding the puddle
trench at the same time that the tank is being cleaned out; if feasible the work
will be carried out.
The drainage of the marsh will be attended to at the earliest opportunity.
The wells to be cleaned out. The custom only resorted to during the present
great scarcity of water, of watering cattle at the wells has been already stopped.
The Committee some months ago sanctioned the expenditure for plant-
ing the "Eucalyptus Globulus" but have ascertained that it will not answer in
a climate like Sholapur.
In the Moti Bagh itself there is no wet cultivation such as rice, sugar-
canes, but only vegetables and flowers. In fact it was retransferred to the
Military Authorities, as the Collector (when it was under civil power) wished to
grow wet crops there, but a report of the matter having been made by the Mili-