NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
16
in the roofs and in the external walls of houses are matters of the most urgent
sanitary importance. For the roofs the openings
which are usually made in cook-rooms can easily be
constructed and for the external walls an open space
about 9 or 12 inches deep should be left all along
the wall under the eaves or else there should be
windows not less than 3 ' x 2 let in. The regis
-tration of births and deaths is also all important
and house-owners should be compelled under a
penalty to give information of the occurrence of a
birth or death in their houses.
69. This report will show that the sanitary condition of the Sudder Bazar
of the principal Military Cantonment in the Western Presidency is in a condi
- tion which is eminently dangerous not only to its inhabitants but to the Euro
- p e a n s o l d i e r s w h o f r e q u e n t i t a n d t o t h e l a r g e E u r o p e a n c o m m u n i t y C i v i l a s w e l l
as Military who live around its outskirts, and the statement given in para. 42
shows how utterly and entirely inadequate is the amount of funds placed at the
disposal of the Cantonment Committee to provide for even a fraction of what is
absolutely necessary for the maintenance of a proper establishment for efficient
daily conservancy, and shows how entirely chimerical any hope must be of raising
a sum sufficient for the undertaking of those structural works of which there is
the most urgent need. If Mr. Norman's suggestion of the establishment of a
Municipality is allowed, sufficient funds for the reforms I have suggested regard
- i n g c o n s e r v a n c y m a y p e r h a p s b e r a i s e d ; b u t n o a m o u n t c a n b e r a i s e d . b y l o c a l
taxation sufficiently large to pay for the cost of a sewerage scheme. This I
respectfully submit, considering the vast Imperial interests affected, should be at
all events partly defrayed by the State, and if, as has been suggested by the Can
- t o n m e n t a u t h o r i t i e s , a p o r t i o n o f t h e r e v e n u e d e r i v e d f r o m t h e s a l e o f t h e
country liquor manufactured for, and consumed by, the people in the immediate
district was assigned for the provision of the necessary funds, the improvements
so much needed in the Sudder Bazar of Poona might be made.
70. In bringing this section of my report on the sanitary condition of the
Cantonment of Poona to a conclusion, I would beg to express my acknowledge
- m e n t s t o t h e C a n t o n m e n t M a g i s t r a t e , C o l o n e l E v e z a r d , f o r a l l t h e t r o u b l e h e h a s
taken to show me the worst parts of the bazar and in obtaining for me all the
information he was able to do.
T. G. HEWLETT,
Acting Sanitary Commissioner.
17
STATEMENT showing the Receipts and Expenditure of the Poona Cantonment Fund
for the year 1875-76.
Receipts.
E x p e n d i t u r e .
Rs.
a. p.
Rs. a. p.
Rs. a. p.
Rs.
a. p.
Balance in hand...
. . . . . . . .
13 15 2 Bazar Conservancy Es-
tablishment
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,037 15 7
Taxes and Licences.
Pound fees
17 6 6
Ghorepoore and Wanowrie
Villages
288 0 0
Cess money
2,250 0 0
2,267 6 6
Fines.
Station Conservancy Es-
tablishment
3,901 10 0
Fine under Cantonment
Rules
855 4 0
Cantonment Fund
2,244 0 0
Do. Lock Hospital......
113 8 0
General Management
1,463 6 9
Do. Departmental......
10 0 0
978 12 0
Grazing Fund.
Lock Hospital Establish-
meat
5,134 6 2
Right of grazing over can-
tonment
1,650 0 0
Latrines—Public
1,603 8 0
Sale of wood
349 6 6
Markets
360 0 0
Do. fruit
10 0 0
2,009 6 6
Fees and Passes.
Slaughter Yard Estab-
lishment
816 0 0
Cultivation fees
45 0 0
Miscellaneous
888 1 7
23,737 0 1
Hawkers' fees.
5 0 0
Latrine fees
432 9 3
By balance in hand and
Market rent
3,311 4 0
treasury
. . . . . . . . . .
1,031 4 3
Process in Small Cause
Court
192 0 0
Slaughter house fees
2,300 0 8
Stone, Bunker, Earth, &c.,
fees
171 11 0
Registration fees
119 0 0
Carriage Licence fees
305 13 0
Balance of Jail Fund
12 11 0
6,895 0 11
Miscellaneous.
Rent of garden and other
land
1,068 10 0
Rent of public buildings
190 0 0
Sale of manure and refuse.
2,126 4 0
Right of occupation of
sites
1,086 6 8
Unclaimed and confiscated
property
1 3 3
Material sold of old mut-
ton slaughter yard
33 0 0
Sale of printed forms
49 11 0
Taboot pass fees
56 1 2
4,611 4 1
Government contribution
. . . . . . . . .
7,992 7 2
Total
24,768 4 4
Total...
. . . . . . . . . 24,768 4 4
G. C. EVEZARD, Colonel,
Cantonment Magistrate.
18
EXTRACT para. 7 of the Report of the Cantonment Committee, dated 1st
December 1876.
" The Sanitary Commissioner's Report on the Sudder Bazar having been
referred to a Sub-Committee, the Sub-Committee have submitted a report
now before the Committee. The Committee concur with the views taken by
the Sub-Committee in their report and are of opinion that their suggestions
may be adopted, as far as practicable. With regard to the registration of houses,
the Cantonment Magistrate reports that Registers of Houses are kept up in his
office, but it is necessary that Government should lay down certain rules, as
provided for under Section XI. of Bombay Act III. of 1867, Clauses 1 to 3."
(True Extract.)
B. H. POTTINGER, Major,
Assistant Quarter Master General,
Poona Division.
EXTRACT Para. 9 of the Report of the Cantonment Committee, dated 1st
December 1876.
" Quarter Master General's letter No. 10-129-4785 of the 13th ultimo,
requesting that early steps may be taken to furnish an estimate of the number
of latrines as are most urgently required is before the Committee. The Com-
mittee have also before them the plans of latrines forwarded by the Quarter
Master General which were carried out by Mr. Crawford in the Concan and are
now recommended for adoption by the Sanitary Commissioner. The latrine
accommodation previously recommended by the Committee to provide for the
bazar requirements was ten blocks of thirty (30) seats each which, at the
estimated rate furnished by Dr. Hewlett, would amount to rupees thirty
t hous and ( 30, 000) ; and cons i der i ng t hat t hes e l at r i nes have s t i l l not been t es t ed
on a large scale, the Committee are unwilling to recommend so large an expen-
diture. At the same time as latrines are urgently wanted for the bazar, it
would be advisable to at once carry out the Jubulpore system, which according
to the estimates previously submitted, provides similar extent of latrine accom-
modation at a cost of eight thousand rupees."
(True Extract.)
B. H. POTTINGER, Major,
Assistant Quater Master General,
Poona Division.
In considering the very able and exhaustive report of the Acting Sani-
tary Commissioner, the first thing that strikes the imagination is the enormous
disproportion between the magnitude of the evil complained of and the very in-
adequate means of mitigation or removal possessed by the body vested with the
sanitary control of this Cantonment. Dr. Hewlett's suggestions and recommen-
dations are on so gigantic a scale, and involve such an enormous expenditure of
capital, that until it be ascertained through Government, that money to meet
these requirements will be forthcoming either from the abkari revenue or other
means, it would be useless for the Sub-Committee to recommend. Dr. Hewlett's
suggestions being carried out in their entirety.
20
mensem, their privies being cleaned by the public sweepers, for the proper
performance of whose duties the Committee, and not the houseowners, should
be held responsible.
10. Notwithstanding its many objectionable features, the system of privies
as described by Dr. Hewlett with cesspits and wooden covers is the one most
extensively used by all classes of natives in this cantonment. This system it is
feared will at present be found impossible to supersede, but its evil results may,
by a good halalcore system, be reduced to a minimum. As recommended by
Dr. Hewlett an efficient body of bunghies should be organized and placed under
the authority and control of the Cantonment Committee, or an Officer delegated
by it for the purpose of exercising authority over the cantonment sweepers.
The sweepers ought to be placed under the immediate superintendence of a
reliable Muccadum, or what would be still better an European Superintendent,
who might be obtained from the Public Health Department of Bombay.
11. In regard to cartage no doubt the filth carts of the Bombay pattern
possess all the advantages claimed for them by the Sanitary Commissioner, but
in view of the recent contract entered into for the removal of sweepings and
sewage matters by carts of a pattern furnished by the Quarter Master General's
Department, it would be undesirable at present to interfere with existing
arrangements.
12. Dr. Hewlett's recommendation for establishing a slaughter house at
a short distance from the Cantonment along the line of railway, where animals
would be killed and prepared for the market, seems a very desirable one.
Arrangements might be made with the Railway Company, as is done in
Bombay, for bringing the meat into market by early morning train.
13. Two markets for the sale of meat and vegetables should be erected,
one in the neighbourhood of Malcom's Tank, and another near the Railway
Station, where the Rest Camp now stands. The latter undoubtedly possesses
great advantage as being situated in a clear open space and close to the railway
Station, and would be a great convenience to residents in the civil lines, and the
population dwelling at the northern end of the Cantonment.
14. The mode of distribution of the drinking water by fixing brass cocks
into a raised water main, as suggested at paragraph 67 of the report is excellent,
and would admirably meet the requirements of the inhabitants.
15. The other suggestions referred to at paragraph 68 regarding the
provision of a sufficient number of dust boxes in the streets; the removal of
cattle from dwelling houses and causing their location outside bazar limits,
which however desirable would, in the opinion of the Sub-Committee, be found
almost impossible to carry into effect; the compulsory white washing inside
and outside of all houses in the bazar at least twice in the year; and the
provisions recommended for roof ventilation are approved, and as far as it is
practicable, should be insisted upon.
G. NORMAN, President,
Collector, Poona.
T. B. BEATTY,
Deputy Surgeon General,
Members,
E. SEXTON Surgeon Major.
No. A.-151 OF 1877.
FROM
T. G. HEWLETT, ESQUIRE,
Acting Sanitary Commissioner;
To
THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
Military Department.
Camp Poona, 15th January 1877.
SIR,
In forwarding to you, for submission to His Excellency the Governor in
Council, the accompanying Report on the Sudder Bazar of the Cantonment of
Poona, I have the honor to attach the monthly report of the Cantonment Com
-mittee at that station, together with the report of the Sub-Committee on the
proposals I have made which have been forwarded to me by the Assistant
Quarter Master General P. D. A.
2. A perusal of the report will, I think, prove to Government that the sani--
tary condition of the Sudder Bazar of Poona is in anything but a satisfactory
state. The evils complained of in it have grown up year by year as the Canton
-ment increased in size, and the improvements now required to put it into a
state of even ordinary cleanliness will necessarily entail a large outlay of money;
but the constant danger of a severe epidemic breaking out is so imminent that
I think measures should at once be taken to at least organize a staff by which
surface cleaning can be perfected, if the more costly but yet most necessary work
of sewering the bazar cannot be commenced for want of funds.
3. I am glad to learn that two public latrines are to be at once constructed,
one on Mr. Crawford's principle and one on the Jubbulpur plan, and that a new
beef slaughter-house is to be erected in a proper place, but the aid of Government
is earnestly solicited to enable the Cantonment Committee to get funds to
maintain an efficient establishment. In my opinion, as expressed in the report,
the shortest and most efficient way would be for Government to constitute the
Sudder Bazar and the Civil lines a Municipality as suggested by Mr. Norman.
This would at once bring in a larger income and would enable a stricter super
-vision to be kept over the sanitary arrangements. I am still of opinion that
there should be one Chief Officer with two responsible Executive Officers, an
Engineer and Health Officer. At present the work and responsibility is so divid-
-ed that speaking as an old Health Officer, I am certain the work of cleaning
even cannot be properly performed.
4. As regards the Committee's remarks on the sewerage scheme, in which
they recommend the half measure which will be not only expensive but is opposed
to sanitary principles, I would hope that Government at all events will order
that levels be taken and estimates be framed to show what the cost of laying
down pipe sewers in the Sudder Bazar would be. It seems to me that persons in
India regard pipe sewers from the omne ignotum pro terribili point of view, and
are frightened at what they do not understand. If only this one bazar could be
properly sewered, the advantages of the plan would, in my opinion, be so appa-
2
rent that I believe a new era would commence, and that other places would
follow this example and thus that the sanitary condition of the country would
be much benefitted. I am also of opinion that it would be highly advantageous
if Government could influence the Poona Municipality to take simultaneous
action in the City of which in fact the Sudder Bazar is in reality, as regards health,
a component part.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
T. G. HEWLETT,
Acting Sanitary Commissioner.
would remove the chief causes of the Sanitary Commissioner's very just com-
plaint. It is not creditable to the intelligence or sense of decency of the persons
whose business it is to look after the slaughter yard that nightsoil carts should
be allowed to be placed close to windward of it, and that through the laziness
of the people concerned, the passage for draining off the blood and water from the
slaughter yard should be allowed to be dammed up!
16. The Sanitary Commissioner describes the filth of the surroundings of
the grain market to nearly equal what has been reported to exist near the meat
market! Possibly this might be reduced by more active supervision.
17. The system of registraion is doubtless as faulty as many other arrange--
ments connected with this bazar. This matter might be considered by an early
date in view to a project, including cost of establishment, being submitted for
the orders of Government.
18. As regards the drinking water, of which the supply appears to be
a m p l e , t h e S a n i t a r y C o m m i s s i o n e r n o t i c e s t h a t t h e e x i s t i n g s y s t e m o f d i p p i n g
goes far to foul the water. In so large a place as the Sudder Bazar of Poona
arrangements ought to be made for delivering the water from stand pipes fitted
with cocks.
19. All that is stated in paragraphs 42 to 49 by the Sanitary Commissioner
will be considered when Government have received the report called for in para--
graph 1 of this resolution.
20. What is stated in paragraph 51 should be brought to the notice of the
Cantonment Committee.
21. The Quarter Master General should report as to the feasibility of
relieving the Cantonment Magistrate of the duties of the Health Officer, and with
whom the performance of those duties should rest.
22. An expression of the views of His Excellency the Commander-in-
Chief on the proposal to form the Sudder Bazar and Civil Lines into a separate
Municipality will be awaited. It should be stated whether, if the proposal be
adopted, the Cantonment Fund will be relieved of all charges on account of the
bazar, and under what rules the land and property in the Sudder Bazar will in
future be held.
23. From a perusal of this valuable report by the Sanitary Commissioner,
it would appear that notwithstanding that the Sudder Bazar of Poona is the
largest bazar of its kind on this side of India, that it belongs to the largest
cantonment in this presidency, and contains within its limits no small amount of
wealth, it is deficient in all the main essentials (with the exception of a supply
of drinking water) which would render the sanitary condition of its inhabitants
sound.
24. In admitting this it must be also admitted that the officers concerned
have, with the very insufficient means at their disposal, done the most that
could be expected to secure a certain amount of cleanliness in the bazar; but
so long as the state of affairs described by the Sanitary Commissioner continues,
the bazar must remain a hot bed from which disease at any time may spread to
the troops quartered to leeward of it.
J. A. M. MACDONALD, Colonel,
Secretary to Government.
REPORT ON THE SANITARY CONDITION OF THE REGIMENTAL
LINES OF NATIVE TROOPS QUARTERED AT POONA.
Inspected in October 1876.
The lines of the three regiments of Native Infantry forming part of the
garrison at Poona are situated in the centre of the Cantonment and on the
ground sloping down from the race-course on the east to the unnamed nullah on
the west, which forms one of the principal drains of the Cantonment. This water-
course starts from below St. Mary's Church, near the beds in which the water of
the Kharakwásla Canal is filtered, and runs in a northerly direction in a valley
between the race-course and Ghorpurie on the east and the officers' quarters
along Wodehouse Road, the arsenal and the northern lines on the west, and,
after passing beyond the northern limits of the Cantonment, is continued through
cultivated fields, until after a course of about two miles it discharges its contents
into the Muta Mula River.
2. The 5th Regiment N. I. is quartered on the extreme right of the
Native Infantry lines, and the area covered by the regimental lines, including
the parade-ground on the east and the hospital which is on the left bank of the
nullah, is said to amount to nearly 14½ acres.
The strength of the regiment and of the Native followers will be seen from
the following table :—
British
Officers.
Native Officers.
Rank and File.
Bhisties.
Boys.
T o t a l .
7
16
696
8
24
751
...
Native officers' wives and children..
Men.
Women. Children. Total.
. . .
14
26
40
Soldiers'
do.
do....
...
269
695
964
Authorized followers... ...
52
67
21
140
Inhabitants of regimental bazaar..
27
30
45
102
Do. o f f i c e r s ' l i n e s . . .
3 7
15
14
66
Total...
116
395
801
1,312
Classification of authorized male followers :—
8 bhisties.
1 hospital apprentice.
2 hospital sweepers.
24 recruit boys.
1 chowdry.
4 dooly-bearers.
1 cook.
8 sweepers.
2 peons.
1 goorgah. 0
3. The lines are said to have been built according to the instructions
conveyed in G. G. O. No. 224 of 1864. The quarter-guard and parade-ground
are on the east, but the lines face north and south. They consist of 2 wings ;
REPORT
ON THE
BARRACKS OCCUPIED BY EUROPEAN TROOPS AT POONA,
INSPECTED IN OCTOBER 1876.
B 116—1
Quart General of the Army.
Poona
PLAN
of
WANOWREE BARRACKS.
Scale 400 feet to an Inch.
(Signed) AGF Hogg major,
Dy Quarter Master Gerteral of the Army.
Quarter Master General's Office
Poona, 24th November 1876....
C o
v t
P h o t o z i n c o g r a p h i c O f f i c e P o o n a 1 8 7 7 .
WANOWREE
SOLDIERS QUARTERS (8)
LOWER STORY
UPPER STORY
HOSPITAL
WANOWREE
SOLIDERS QUARTERS (8)
LOWER STORY
UPPER STORY
CHOREPOREE
SOLDIERS' QUARTERS (12)
SOLDIERS' QUARTERS (12)
photozincographed at the Govt Office
CHOREPOREE
SOLDIERS' QUARTERS (12)
SOLDIERS ' QUARTERS (12)
R E P O R T O N T H E B A R R A C U S O C C U P I E D B Y
E U R O P E A N T R O O P A T P O O N A 1 8 7 6
Scale, 6 Inches to a Mile
Quarter Master General's Office
Poona 23rd December 1876....
Govt Photozincographic Office, Poona-1876
(signed). A. G. F. Hogg
Major;
Dy Quarter Master General of the Army.
16
me they were the most comfortable cells he ever was in. The cells are light, lofty,
and fully exposed to the prevailing breeze.
61. In bringing this report to a conclusion I would desire to express my
best acknowledgments to General Lord Mark Kerr, Commanding the Division, for
all the assistance he gave me during my inspection, and especially to Major
Pottinger, Deputy Quarter-Master General, for all the trouble he took on my
behalf.
T. G. HEWLETT,
Acting Sanitary Commissioner.
15 th January 1877.
2ND QUEEN'S.
Statement showing the Average Strength of the Regiment during the
Years 1869 and 1870.
1869.
Men.
Officers.
Average Strength. Malarious Fevers. Average Strength.
Malarious Fevers.
852
428
33
8
1870.
Men.
Officers.
Average Strength. Malarious Fevers. A v e r a g e S t r e n g t h .
Malarious Fevers.
894
482
35
7
HOSPITAL, 56TH REGIMENT.
Return showing the Average Admission for Malarious Fever at Poona.
Y e a r .
Average Daily Strength.
Average Daily Admissions for Fever.
Remarks.
Officers.
Men.
Women. Children. Officers.
Men.
Women. Children.
1871
32.20
899.22
117.25
1 1 8 . 4 3
05.00
1.05
03.33
00.59
1872
3 1 . 3 3
921.67
104.83
124.17
05.48
08.36
03.55
01.29
1873
33.25
937.66
115.33
1 5 2 . 5 0
01.81
02.63
02.95
01.51
17
TABLE of Admissions and Deaths by each Class of Disease in the 2/7th, Fusiliers
quartered in Ghorpurie Barracks (Poona) during the Year 1874.
Average Strength, 853.
Class.
Order.
Description.
No. of
Adimis-
sions.
No. of
Deaths.
Remarks.
I.
A.
General Diseases....
764
3
1. small-pox, 2 enteric fever, 28
contd. fever,271 febricula, 323
ague, 161 remit. fever, 3 ma-
lignant cholera, 1 erysipelas.
B.
Do.
do.
. . .
113
1
14 rheum. acute, 14 rheum. chro-
nic, 71 primary syphilis, 9
secondary syphilis, 4 lumbago,
1 hæmoptysis.
I I .
1.
Diseases of Nervous System.
10
1
1 meningitis, 1 sun-stroke, 3 neu-
ralgia, 3 dementia, 2 sciatica,
1 apoplexy.
I.
Eye
...
...
...
10
...
1 hordeolum, 1 iritis, 7 conjunc-
tivitis, 1 tarsal ophthalmia.
III.
Ear
...
...
...
18
...
1 perforation of memb, tym., 3
inflam. memb. tym., 4 deaf-
ness, 9 inflam. o f
external
meatus, 1 abscess.
IV.
Nose
...
...
...
1
...
1 epistaxis.
V.
Circulatory System
...
7
...
1 pericarditis, 4 varicose veins,
2 palpitation.
VI. Absorbent ...
...
23
.. .
23 inflam. of glands.
VIII Respiratory System...
1 7
. . .
15 bronchitis, 2 pneumonia.
IX. Digestive......
3 8 2
3
90 tonsillitis, 96 dyspepsia, 17
dysentery, 104 diarrhœa, 6
colic, 2 tænia solium, 1 abscess
of liver, 4 constipatio, 16 he-
morrhoids, 20 hepatitis, 3
jaundice, 2 peritonitis, 14 ul-
ceration of gums, 15 gumboil,
1 condylorma, 1 stomatitis.
X.
Urinary .....
67
...
2 Bright's disease, 56 gonorrhœa,
1 phymosis, 2 stricture of
urethra, 1 stricture spasmo-
dic, 1 irritability of bladder,
2 epididymitis, 2 stricture or-
g a n i c .
b
XI.
G enerative ...
...
4
...
4 orchitis.
XII. Locomotion
...
...
2
...
1 synovitis, 1 dis. art. car-
tilage.
XIII. Cellular Tissue ...
8
...
3 inflam. cell. tissue, 5 abscess.
XIV. Cutaneous...
...
...
72
...
5 eczema, 45 ulcer, 11 boil, 3
warts, 2 roscola, 55 whitlow,
1 irritation (musquito).
III.
I.
General Debility
...1
24
...
V.
II.
Accidental .....
...
100
. . .
___
89 contusions, 1 concussion of
brain, 2 fracture, 18 wounds,
33 sprain, 1 dislocation, 5
blister of feet, 1 foreign body
in cornea (powder).
Total...
1,622
7
This table gives
the admissions into hospital only.
The following statement will give a more correct estimate of the actual sickness in the
regiment during the year:—
Strength (average) 853.
Per cent.
Average daily sick in hospital ...
...
. . . ... . . . . . .
53.38 6.25
Average daily number of weakly men attending hospital or absent at hill sanitarium 50 . 00 5. 86
Average daily total non-effective through sickness ...
...
...
... 103.38 12.11
(Signed)
B. GIRAUD, M.D., Surgeon-Major,
In medical charge.
B 1 1 6 — 5