12
44. In this event the very first thing to do is to provide deep subsoil drains,
as well as shallow surface drains, so as to prevent the soil around
1. each barrack,
2. each patcherry,
3. the hospital, and
4. each officer's house,
being saturated with water. The shallow trenches that are now being dug, good
as they are, are yet, in my opinion, insufficient, and are not in accordance with the
principles of subsoil drainage laid down by the Army Sanitary Commission,
which are, in my opinion, the only means which can effectively drain this site;
although I am glad to see that Colonel Finch, R.E., the Executive Engineer, is
doing a great amount of good by levelling off the surface around each barrack on
a slope to a shallow earthen surface trench, and I am informed the surface round
the barracks is to be metalled. This action will, doubtless, do much good; but it
will not, in my opinion, do away with the necessity of draining the subsoil as well
as the surface.
45. I consider the 12 old-pattern barracks should be absolutely con-
demned. They are on such low plinths that they never can be made healthy.
They are utterly faulty in their construction, as they are so much shut in, that
the prevailing breeze can never reach them properly, and their roofs are so low
that there can be no ventilation when the doors are shut to keep out the wind
both in the cold and hot weather and the rain during the monsoon, and they are
not worth going to any expense in the hopes of improving their condition. They
are occupied by 312 men, so that accommodation for that number would be
required.
46. Regarding the 12 new-pattern barracks, much may be done towards
their improvement, and I should recommend—
( a . ) T h a t t h e r o o f s b e p r o v i d e d w i t h l a r g e z i n c r a i n - w a t e r g u t t e r s , w i t h
downtakes of sufficient calibre to carry off the rainfall. It is not
difficult to calculate the receiving area of the roof and the necessary
calibre of both gutter and downtake. I, however, strongly record my
opinion that the downtake should not end over the bare ground as
now universally seen. There should be a pipe or an open masonry
drain under each to carry away the rainfall to a main drain, which
should deliver the water at a lower level and at a distance from the
barracks.
( b .) The roofs should be provided with a continuous ridge-ventilator extend
- i n g a l o n g t h e w h o l e l e n g t h o f r o o f , t h e l e a n t o i n s i d e s h o u l d b e p l a n k e d
as high as the ventilator, and at the eaves of the roof should be air
inlets as recommended by the Army Sanitary Commission. If the pre-
- s e n t c l e r e s t o r y w i n d o w s a r e r e t a i n e d , t h e b o n n e t s s h o u l d b e r e m o v e d ; t h e y
prevent the entrance of air. The clerestory windows should be fitted
with open gauze as at present during the fine weather, and they might
be protected by a projecting louvre so as to prevent the rain beating in.
( c . ) I a l s o t h i n k t h a t t h e s e r j e a n t s ' r o o m s a t e i t h e r e n d o f t h e b u i l d i n g
should be removed, and that the space so recovered should be thrown
into the barrack; that the verandah all round the barrack be cleared
of all excrescences, dividing walls, &c., &c., and be left quite free, de-
- t a c h e d l a v a t o r i e s b e i n g p r o v i d e d f o r a b l u t i o n p u r p o s e s , a n d t h a t a
detached bungalow, containing quarters sufficient for the serjeants of
each barrack, be erected in the space between adjoining barracks.