11
round these compounds with Colonel Barclay, Commanding the 66th Regiment,
I saw a night-soil and a cutchra cart returning across the nullah. After per-
sonal inquiry as to the site of deposit of these matters, I found evidence that
this filth had been deposited, probably for years past, within about 400 yards of
the nullah, just opposite the officers' houses. The carts I saw had come from
the regimental lines, and the drivers were, of course, paid to bring this valu-
able manure to the fields; but as the officers' houses have so injudiciously been
placed over this nullah, I think if they are to be compelled to live here, that the
Cantonment limits should be extended so as to include, at least, a quarter of a
mile on the east side of the nullah.
39. Adjacent to the officers' lines, but outside of Cantonment limits, is
the filthy village of Ghorpuri, where there is a population of over 4,000 persons,
and in which there is no conservancy establishment, but the inhabitants are in
the habit of using the eastern bank of the nullah as a latrine. This place is a
constant source of danger to the Ghorpuri lines and also to the Cavalry lines
on the other side of the railway. It would, of course, be desirable to locate the
village on another site; but if that is too expensive, it certainly under present
arrangements should be brought under the control of the Cantonment Magistrate.
40. Such is a brief description of the sanitary condition of the Ghorpuri
lines. I regret that I am unable to give any detailed medical history, extending over
a term of years, of regiments living in these lines, as the Surgeon-General British
Forces has informed me that such is not available; but I have been favoured with
the returns attached to this report from the Medical Officers of regiments which
have occupied them, and I recommend the Cantonment Committee carefully to
study these, and to see how persistently each regiment has for years past
suffered from malarious fever.
41. Doctor Giraud has been kind enough to favour me with copies of his
reports on the sanitary state of these lines in 1874 and 1875, in which he most
strenuously and earnestly recommends the improvement of the lines and barracks
by the only effectual means. As these documents are already in possession of
the military authorities in Poona, it is not necessary for me to copy them; but
I can only say I agree most heartily with most of what Doctor Giraud has written,
and with the majority of his recommendations, which are conceived and based on
true principles of sanitation.
42. I am strongly of opinion, and speaking simply from a sanitary point of
view, that seeing that the site of these barracks has been so injudiciously chosen
at the lowest part of camp; that they are themselves so badly constructed; that
the site of the patcherries is also malarious; that the hospital is such an insani--
tary building; and that the officers' quarters are such fever-nests—that Government
would take a wise step, and one which would be the cheapest in the long run, if
it were to decide on abandoning these lines.
43. I hear, however, that Government has sanctioned the expenditure of 6
lakhs for the erection of new barracks on this site. I regret this, because, in my
opinion, the time has arrived when an equal amount of favour should be granted
to the British troops serving in the Bombay Presidency as is shown to those in
Bengal, and that the manificent hill-ranges in this Presidency should be ualiz-
ed for the location of European troops. I do not mean an elevated quasi
prison-island like Purandhar, but the eastern spurs of the Western Gháts where,
as at Yuwateshwár and Panchganny, there are elevated plains, and where there
is not an excessive rainfall, but where the men could enjoy plenty of space for
exercise, and where during the rains they would be, at worst, in an English
climate. I would, therefore, gladly see every available rupee spent in building
barracks on these hills; but if, for military reasons, it is determined to continue
the location of a British regiment at Ghorpuri, then I am of opinion that a certain
number of new barracks must be built.