and west is almost on a level with the roof of the building. It is built on an
old and exploded ground-plan, the wards forming three sides of a square, the
open side facing the north, and the cook-house, store, latrines, wash-house,
&c., forming a second square in rear of the south ward. The objections to
this plan of construction are—
1st. When the wind blows from the south, as it does in the rainy season,
it is in a great measure shut out by the latrines, cook-room, dead-
house, store, wash-house, &c., and the little that enters is rendered
impure by passing through these places; but, in addition, the east
and west wards, being end on, have no through ventilation.
2nd . When the wind blows in a westerly direction, as it does during the
whole of the hot season, only the westerly ward gets the benefit of it.
3 rd. When the wind blows from the east, as it does during the greater
part of the winter, only the easterly ward gets the benefit of it.
4th. The northerly wind seldom blows; so the open side here is of little
use.
"When the hospital constructed on this plan was taken over by the 2/15
Regiment on the 18th March 1875, the following were some of the defects
found to exist independently of the defective general plan of the building:
— C a c t u s h e d g e s i n t h e c o m p o u n d a n d r o u n d i t , w h i c h a r e a l w a y s r e c e p t a c l e s
for all kinds of filth; an old house on the rising ground to the west, the pro--
perty of a Parsee, who would not keep it in repair. The drainage of water
from rising ground on the west of the building, and also the water falling
from the roof soaking under the west ward, the ground outside being higher
than the floor of the ward. All water that fell on the square, as well as that
from the roof, had no way of escaping except by soaking under the south
and west wards. A series of small rooms built up against the south side of
t he sout h ward, shut t i ng out l i ght and ai r. No chi mney i n t he cook-rooms,
so that the cooks could hardly see with the smoke the articles they cooked.
The windows in the wards some 4 feet from the ground, so that no air could
get at the beds placed against the walls. A shut -in verandah on the sides
next the square of the east and west wards, a tumble-down verandah on the
west side of the west ward insufficient to protect it from the evening sun.
The following improvements have since been made, owing entirely to the as-
sistance given by Lord Mark Kerr:—The cactus hedges in the compound were
removed, as also the old house, and the ground laid out neatly and planted
until it is now one of the nicest spots in the lines. The cactus hedges to the
west of the building was removed, and a neat fence-wall put in its stead.
Deep drains were cut to the west of the hospital so as to carry off the water
and prevent it filtering under the wards. A stone surface drain was made
round the inner square to collect and carry off the water falling from the roof.
A good wide verandah was built on the east side of the east ward. The rooms
built up against the south ward were removed, and a good verandah made
and four windows put in the side of the ward where these rooms stood, thus
lighting up the ward and ventilating it. A cooking place with chimney was
put in the cook-house. There now remains only the windows of the wards
to be cut down to the ground, and the two verandahs next to the inner
square to be opened out. These done, the most will have been made of this
faulty building. To Lord Mark Kerr is due the credit of what has been
done, as through his efforts every recommendation was attended to. Most
of the ague originated in the hospital. Men who remained for any time in
hospital with local affections generally got an attack of ague."
I quite agree with Doctor Moffit in his opinion of this hospital, and in addi-
tion to what he has stated may be mentioned that the new military prison has
been built immediately to windward of the hospital, and must shut out the breeze.
For these reasons I think a new hospital should be erected when the first prin-