NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
18
ABSTRACT STATEMENT of the Ahmednagar Cantonment Fund for the year ending
31st March 1876.
RECEIPTS.
EXPENDITURE.
Headings.
Amount.
Total.
Headings.
Amount.
Rs. a. p.
Rs. a. p.
Rs. a. p .
Balance Credit brought forward
...
. . . . . .
2 2
I.—Advances (recoverable)
...
. . . . . .
II.—Conservancy—Bazaar
...
832 5 3
III.—
Do.
Station
...
1,612 10 10
I.—Taxes and Licenses.
IV.—Cantonment Fund ...
...
387 12 3
V.—Cemetery
...
...
...
342 0 0
1. Chowkidari or House Tax
...
...
1,438
8 9
VI.—General Management
...
......
2. Pound Fees
...
...
...
...
170 5 0
VII.—Hospitals and Dispensaries.
181 11 2
1,608 13 9
VIII.—Lock Hospital
...
...
2,677 3 4
IX.—Latrines, Public
...
. . .
784 2 0
II.—Fines.
X.—Lighting Bazaars, Roads, and
Chowkeys
...
. . .
774 14 7
1. Breach of Cantonment Rules generally.
2,050 13 7
XL—Lighting Bandstands
...
126 0 0
2. Do.
Departmental do. do.
...
54 11 6
XII.—Markets
...
...
...
......
2,105 9 1
XIII.—Pound
...
...
...
16 11 10
XIV.—Police
...
...
...
3,603 14 0
III.—Grazing Fund.
IV.—Planting and Watering
Trees
...
...
...
347 5 2
1. Right of grazing on Cantonment lands.
3,425 0 0
XVI.—Pensions
...
...
...
72 0 0
2. Sale of grass
...
...
...
...
545 1 9
XVII.—Public Works
...
...
860 15 1
3. Do. of fruit
...
...
...
...
223 0 0
XVIII.—Slaughter-Yards
...
...
168 6 0
4. Do. of trees and wood ...
...
...
210 3 6
XIX.—Station-Garden
...
...
1,106 3 4
4,403 5 3
XX.—Miscellaneous
...
...
174 0 6
I V.—Fees and Passes.
1. Grass-Stack Fees
...
...
...
51 7 0
Total... 14,068 3 4
2. Hackney-Carriage Fees
... . . .
2 8 3 10
3. Halting-place
do.
...
...
...
504 2 8
Balance Credit ... 15,103 7 3
4. Hawkers'
do.
...
...
...
500 0 0
5. Latrine
do.
...
...
...
798 10 0
6. Lime-burners'
do .... . . .
1 9 0 4 0
7. Market d o . . . . . . . . . .
27 12 0
8. Pawnbrokers'
do.
...
...
...
9 6 9
9. Police Pass
do. (liquor) ...
...
11 14 4
10. Slaughter-House do. ...
...
...
551 13 0
11. Temporary erection, Fees on ...
...
49 13 3
2,723 6 10
V.—Miscellaneous.
1. Rent of Garden and other Lands
...
17 0 0
2. Sale of Manure and Refuse
...
...
268
8 0
3. Do. of Station Garden Produce
...
2,117 12 10
4. Do. to Unclaimed and Confiscated
Property...
...
...
...
...
186 10 5
5. Sale of Dead-stock
...
...
. . .
0 1 3
6. Do. of Earth
...
...
...
...
5 13 0
Police Pension Fund
...
...
. . .
7 3 6
2,603 1 0
VI.—Recoveries (Sums previously
advanced).
Received from Executive Engineer, &c.
on account of certain works, &c.
...
......
32 4 6
VII.—Contributions from Government.
Nil
...
...
...
...
......
......
Total Rs. ...
......
29,171 10 7
Total Rs. ... 29,171 10 7
Ahmednagar, 30th September 1876.
C. A. MOORE, Major,
Secretary, Cantonment Fund Committee.
Ahmednagar, 29 th September 1876.
C. A: MOORE, Major,
Secretary, Cantonment Fund Committee.
STATEMENT showing the Receipts and Expenditure of the Ahmednagar Cantonment Fund during the last five years.
Receipts.
Amount.
Total.
E x p e n d i t u r e .
Amount.
Total.
Remarks.
Rs. a. p.
Rs.
a. p.
Rs. a. p.
Rs. a. p.
Balance in hand, 31st March 1871.
. . . . . .
20,950 5 6
1871-72 ...
...
... 19,281 6 1
19,875 10 11
1872-73 ...
. . .
... 18,018 1 2
16,459 13 9
1873-74 ...
...
... 13,642 8 5
20,967 10 9
1874-75 ...
. . .
... 15,068 14 2
13,962 13 9
1875-76 ...
. . .
...
13,476 8 5
14,068 3 4
85,334 4 6
.
79,487 6 3 Balance in hand, 31st March 1876.
.....
15,103 7 3
Total Rs...
. . . . . .
1,00,437 11 9
Total Rs...
......
1,00,437 11 9
21
No. 2 OF 1877.
Cantonment Ahmednagar,
8th January 1877.
FROM
THE OFFICER COMMANDING AT ARMEDNAGAR,
AND PRESIDENT, CANTONMENT COMMITTEE,
To
THE SANITARY COMMISSIONER, BOMBAY.
SIR,
In reply to your letter of the 28th October last, forwarding your In-
spection Report—herewith returned—on the Cantonment of Ahmednagar, I
have the honour, agreeably to the procedure laid down in Government Resolution,
General Department, No. 2617, dated 23rd August 1876, to return it with copies
of the Resolution passed by the Cantonment Committee.
I have the honour to be, ,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
FRANCIS LOCH, Colonel,
and President, Cantonment Committee.
EXTRACT from Proceedings of the Cantonment Committee assembled at Ahmed-
nagar on the 12th day of December 1876, para. 15.
The Reports on the suggestions made by the Sanitary Commissioner agreeably
to Cantonment Committee Proceedings, para. 8, of the 11th Nouenaber 1876,
having been submitted, are read.
The Committee agree in the views expressed by the Sub-Committee, and
suggest their proceedings be forwarded to the 'Sanitary Commissioner with a
few general remarks, as follows :-
Para. 6—Married Men's Quarters.— Latrines. The proximity of the latrines
to the cook-houses is most objectionable ; but the great defect complained
of by the Sanitary Commissioner might be remedied by closing up the win-
dows on the cook-room sides, and by perforating the north and east and
south and west walls, which would allow a free circulation of air. This, if ap-
proved of and sanctioned, could be carried out by the men of the 66th Regiment
at a trifling cost.
Para. 8.-The clerestory windows should be so fixed at certain seasons of
the year that they would always remain open, and thus admit a free current of
air at all times. The ropes might be coiled up on a hook fixed in the wall at
the same height as the lower portion of the clerestory windows, instead of being
removed, as suggested by Sub-Committee.
B 632-f
22
Para. 11.—Wooden steps should be supplied to enable the bhistie to
fill the iron tanks. Iron receptacles of such a size as would admit of their
being bodily removed, might be substituted for the present stone sinks, as sug-
gested by the Sanitary Commissioner.
Para. 14.—Same arrangements for the windows as recommended for the
windows in the barracks.
Para. 15.—The Committee fully concur in the remarks and suggestions
made by the Sanitary Commissioner regarding the present hospital ; but as
the alterations recommended involve the removal of the Artillery Syce Lines,
and the Mail-Contractor's dwelling-house, workshop, and stables, as well as some
of the hospital building, and constructions of others ; also the removal of the left-
flank urinal of the 66th Regiment—for which it is most difficult to select a more
suitable site—the Committee are of opinion that the alterations to the hospital
should be left for future consideration, when funds are available ; as it will have
eventually to be decided whether it will be best to remove the present buildings
objected to, and convert the hospital as recommended, or to make one general
hospital near the present Artillery Hospital, which now occupies the most
eligible site for such a building. The gutters complained of, can, if required, be
easily filled in ; but the Committee are of opinion that, without going to this
outlay, they can be kept perfectly clean.
(True Extract.)
C. A. MOORE,
Secretary to the Cantonment Committee.
5th January 1877.
PROCEEDINGS of Sub-Committee assembled by order of the President, Cantonment
Committee at Ahmeclnagar, on the 20th day of December 1876, to consider the
remarks and suggestions of the Sanitary Commissioner with regard to the
Lines occupied by the European Infantry at this station.
Lieut.-Colonel F. C. D'E. BAIWLAY, 66th Regiment ...President.
Major W. MANSON, R.E., Executive Engineer
Surgeon-Major T. K. BINNIE, A.M.D., attached to 66th Members.
Regiment
..
The Sub-Committee having met according to order, proceed to consider the
recommendations of the Sanitary Commissioner.
Para. 6.—A plan has been submitted to run a drain, at the back of Nos. 1
and 2 blocks, to carry off the waste-water, and it is hoped this work may be
carried out at once. This will prevent the water soaking into the ground, as com-
plained of by the Sanitary Commissioner. The close proximity of the privies to
the cook-houses appears to be an error in original construction, which cannot
now be altered.
Para. 8.—The Sub-Committee do not consider that ridge-ventilation is
necessary. The clerestory windows are exceptionally large and numerous. If the
north walls were pierced, it would only lead into the serjeant's quarters at the
end, as the gables are not exterior ones. It is not recommended to increase the
23
openings of the verandah windows, or to remove the shutters of the inner windows ;
as in hot weather the more means that there are of closing during the heat of
the day, the cooler will they be. The ropes of the clerestory windows might be
removed, and the shutters fixed during the hot weather, if so required by the
Medical Officer. With reference to the waste-water from the men's ablution-
rooms, and the iron receptacles at present in use for its reception, it is recom-
mended to remove these iron vessels, and that the refuse-water which would
collect in the cesspits is to be removed daily, either by the men for the purpose of
watering their gardens in front of. the barracks, or by the conservancy establish-
ment of the regiment—which might with advantage be increased by two
sweepers.
Para. No. 9.—The filters, which are of the standard plan adopted through-
out the Presidency, work fairly well if properly attended to ; this is a matter
of regimental interior ecconomy. That a filter entailing little or no trouble
would be better, there can be no doubt ; but it is hardly thought that the system
at present in use should be altogether condemned.
Para. No. 10.—The lighting of the barrack-rooms at present is bad. Kero-
sine lamps, as suggested by the Sanitary Commissioner, would be an undoubted
improvement, though it is feared the cost to carry out the suggestion would be
considerable.
Para. 11.—There is no doubt the cook-rooms would be much benefited
by being lime-washed once a month. Should it, however, be found that the cost
of carrying out this proposition be too great, the Committee would strongly re-
commend that the operation be performed at least once a quarter, in place of
twice a year, as at present. The Committee also recommend. that iron tanks
fitted with brass cocks be placed outside each cook-house, for the purpose of
containing the water required for cooking purposes, in place of the wooden cask
now in use. The top of the tank to be covered with a lid fastened by a padlock,
the key of which should be kept by the cook-house orderly, who should remove
the lid to admit of the bhistie filling the tank daily.
Para. No. 11.—The floors of the enclosure for dry refuse should be paved
roughly. It is not thought desirable to introduce glazed piping for refuse-water ;
surface drains appear to be better suited to India, and it is believed they are in-
sisted. on by Government. There is not sufficient water to flush out pipes in the
worst—i.e. hottest—season, and they would be likely to get choked. On the
question of extending the hospital it is thought nothing can be done till the
Royal Artillery Syce Lines are removed ; and when it is decided to extend the
hospital, the two staff quarters on its left flank may be brought into use for sub-
sidiary buildings—infectious ward, &c. The two cells for cases of delirium
tremens might be easily altered and improved ; there is no necessity to remove
them.
F. C. D'E. BA.RCLAY, Lieut.-Col. 66th Regt., President.
W, MANSON, Major, R. E.
Members.
T. K. BIRNIE, Surgeon-Major, 66th Regt
26
mitories the wooden staircase would have to be extended further up, as the
present stone-steps are utterly useless for invalids. The Sub-Committee consider
that the upper storey should be built in, as the dormitory-floor has been. A
skittle-alley should also be provided near the building. The centre room, used
for dining, is very thoroughly ventilated, and it is thought this provides enough
space for a recreation-room.
Para. 29.—The Shahpur Tank has been brought before Government as
a famine relief work ; it will, doubtless, largely in-
crease the supply of water to camp. The Bundara
Nullah Project is in addition to this, and will be met
from Cantonment funds.
Para. 31.—It is not thought that the time has arrived for superseding
mus-sucks
and bhisties. To multiply pumps and valves
and cocks is a doubtful advantage in this country where
care is not taken of such things, and it is difficult to repair them. It is, however,
considered desirable that sonic large under-ground reservoir for water be made
in camp in connection with the aqueducts ; and in which, in dry seasons, water
could be stored, and which could be pumped into the usual channels and shafts
by a largo stationary pump built over them.
(29). General Improve-
ments.
General Improvements.
Minor Improvements.
Para. 32.—A pipe drain should be fixed to the
horse-trough,
W. MANSON, Major, R.E., President.
A.
'
CAMPBELL. Captain, R.A.
T. K. BIRNIE, Surgeon-Major, and Senior Members.
Medical Officer, British Troops.
JAMES WILLIAMSON, Surgeon, M.B., attached
to F/9 R. A.—Attending.
Ahmednagar, 11th December 1876,
The Sub-Committee carefully inspected the Cantonment Bazaar and other
portions of the Cantonment to which their attention has been drawn by the
Sanitary Commissioner in his Report No. 28/1876, dated 28th October 1876, paras .
33 to 47; and, agreeabbly to the orders contained in para. 8 of Cantonment
Committee Proceedings, dated the 11th November 1876, divide their report
under two headings :—
1 st—Minor Improvements— i.e ., those they consider can be carried out
at once,
2nd—General. Improvements, which may be carried out as funds will admit.
The minor improvements are
—
1. The storage of dry rubbish on completion of a contract.
2. The disposal of night-soil.
3. The cleaning of the well in the Cantonment hospital compound.
It appears it has been the custom for some years to sell all the dry
rubbish by contract ; but where it is not sold, it is carted away and placed
in pits, After standing for a year or more it is purchased by cart-loads
28
The tank-cart system the Sub-Committee do not quite approve of. The
question arises, where would the bath-water in compounds be collected, which
the cart is to carry away ? If a collection of water was allowed, cesspools would
again have to be introduced ; and this method of collecting water they are sure
would be condemned by the Sanitary Commissioner. The Sub-Committee, there-
fore, think that, until funds are available, fresh river-sand should be placed from
time to time in all the drains where bath-water runs; and they consider that,
should this system be carefully carried out, no complaints could arise.
W. MANSON, Major, and Executive Engineer A. C.
C. A. MOORE, Major, and Cantonment Magistrate.
•
F. GEORGE CURRAN, M.D., Surgeon, and Sanitary Officer.
Ahmednagar, December 2nd, 1876.
No. F.-151 OF 1877.
FROM
T. G. HEWLETT, ESQUIRE,
Acting Sanitary Commissioner ;
TO
THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
Military Department.
Camp Poona, 15 th January 1877.
SIR,
I h a v e t h e h o n o r t o s u b m i t t o y o u , f o r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n o f H i s E x c e l l e n c y
the Governor in Council, my inspection Report on the Cantonment of Ahme
d - n a g g a r w i t h t h e r e m a r k s o f t h e C a n t o n m e n t C o m m i t t e e u p o n t h e p r o p o s a l s m a d e
therein, and in doing so would beg to express my thanks to the Cantonment
Committee for the care they have taken in considering the recommendations I
have made for bettering the sanitary condition of this important Cantonment.
The Committee however takes exception to some of the proposals, and I shall
now proceed to answer these in detail.
2. Para. 6.—Privies in the married quarters. I should much prefer the
privies of the two blocks complained of to be pulled down and erected at a greater
distance from the cook-rooms. The plan suggested by the Committee is prefer-
able to the existing state of things, but this is all that can be said for it, as from
the propinquity of the privies, the food must always be exposed to privy air which
is disgusting and improper. If they are continued, more ventilation should be
provided for them.
3. Para. 8.—Ridge ventilation to barracks and patcherries. I still hold the
opinion that this is absolutely necessary, as the experience of all Officers who are
in the habit of visiting barracks and patcherries must convince every one that
Europeans of the class who live in them invariably close up every aperture with
- i n t h e i r r e a c h b y w h i c h a i r c a n e n t e r o r e s c a p e . T h e n o r t h w a l l i n t h e s e
barracks ought, I think, to be pierced and a bonnet put into the gable end which
would ventilate both the sergeants' and the barrack-rooms and would cost com-
paratively speaking a trifle. I am also entirely at variance with the Committee
regarding the necessity of removing the inner shutters from the windows of the
barracks. They are most pernicious and dangerous, as they are invariably closed
at night and they are not wanted as the outer verandah is enclosed. They
greatly impede the ventilation of the barrack, and. I strongly advise that this
improvement, which would cost nothing, be ordered by Government As regards
the disposal of the ablution water the sub-committee appears to have entirely
overlooked the danger complained of in having a cesspool close to the barrack
and to windward of it. I cannot understand how it can wish to continue these
dangerous and abominable cesspits or the expensive system of hand removal of
the contents. I think this foul water should remove itself to a garden, and I
hope Government will order this recommendation to be carried out.
4. Para. 9.—As regards the three garrah filters, the remarks of the sub-
committee do not influence the opinion I have formed of their inefficiency from
actual inspection not only in these but in all European barracks. They are a
sham and a delusion in which no sort of confidence ought to be placed.
3
12. Paras. 42 and 43.—The disposal of night-soil. In spite of the objec--
tions raised by the sub-committee, I am distinctly of opinion that the massing
of large quantities of night-soil in the deep pits as practised at Ahmednagar and
in other Cantonments is an extremely dangerous and wrong proceeding, and. I
trust that Government will order it to be stopped, and that the system of disposal
of night-soil as recommended in the report which is alone sanitarily safe be carried
out forthwith. It is not necessary to destroy the babool grove spoken of, there
is plenty of good ground which could be rented and such I pointed out to Major
Moore.
13. Para. 36.—The sub-committee do not 'sufficiently in my opinion estimate
the danger of stagnant water being kept in open reservoirs for drinking pur-
poses. It immediately commences to absorb any gas that may pass over it, and
as the place is so close to the public road, the water is constantly fouled by dust,
leaves, &c. There can be no reason why the present reserviors should not be
arched over, and brass cocks are the best to draw the water off by such as are
now in use at the closed reservoir at the Karunj in Ahmedabad.
14. Para. 38.—I do not think the funds could be better spent than in
making open road side drains in the bazar, which is now the point from which
danger is to be apprehended to the European troops ; this action would make the
place infinitely safer and would remove a great source of inconvenience to the
inhabitants.
15. In conclusion I would earnestly trust that Government will be pleased
to order each of the recommendations to be taken up as funds permit, according
to the instructions conveyed in Government Resolution No. 2617, dated 23rd
August 1876.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
T. G. HEWLETT,
Acting Sanitary Commissioner.
9. The suggestion regarding night-urinals in para. 20 should be consider-
ed. It appears absolutely necessary that some such arrangement should be
adopted. It certainly ought to have been included in the details of the original
design.
10. The state of the three-gurrah filter, as described in para, 21, was
probably attributable to the supineness or neglect of the men, whose duty it was
to see that it was in working condition.
11. The fault in the air shafts noticed in para. 23 might be remedied
without entailing much expenditure.
12. The report of the Quarter Master General on para. 24 will be awaited.
All that is recommended for improving Salabhát Khan's Tomb as a sanitarium
will be borne in mind when funds for meeting the expense are available.
13. It is very gratifying to Government to see the number of improvements
introduced in the Ahmednagar cantonment and bazars as exhibited in the
Cantonment Magistrate's memorandum attached to the Sanitary Commissioner's
report.
14. Doubtless the Cantonment Committee will, as soon as practicable, adopt
such of the recommendations of the Sanitary Commissioner regarding the general.
improvement of the sanitary condition of the cantonment, and for the increase
of the water supply.
15. What is stated in paras. 53 and 54 of the Sanitary Commissioner's
report should be brought under the notice of the Quarter Master General.
16. To the Sanitary Commissioner's report, extracts from the proceedings
of the Cantonment Committee are attached. It is noticed that questions which
could only be dealt with by the Public Works Department after report by the
Quarter Master General, are discussed by the Cantonment Committee, e.g .,
the position of the privies and other out-offices
belonging to the married men's quarters of the
infantry barracks ; the ventilation of the barracks ;
the system of supplying drinking water ; the
arrangement proposed for opening up the window
space ; the condition of the hospital.
17. It is also noticed that the President of the Cantonment Committee
ordered a Sub-Committee to report on:—
The drainage of Nos. 1 and 2 blocks.
The ridge ventilation of the barracks and sergeants' quarters, &c.
Regarding the filters;
The lighting of the barracks;
The lime washing of the cook-rooms;
The floors of the enclosure for dry refuse.
18. These are matters connected with the efficiency of the barrack accom-
modation furnished by Government for the troops, and if any point requires to
be looked into by a Board, the order should, it is thought, be issued by the Officer
Commanding the Troops, and the proceedings of the Board should be sent to the
Quarter Master General.
19. These remarks are recorded in order that it may be clearly stated
whether, in the opinion of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, the Canton-
ment Committee exceed the duties originally devolving on them,
J. A. M. MACDONALD, Colonel,
Secretary to Government.
2
Sanitary Commissioner's report—
Para. 6.
Para. 8.
Para. 11.
Para. 14.
Para. 15.