Drainage of
the Punjab
Frontier
stations.
Meean Meer,
Roorkee and
Mooltan.
ix
fluence of increased irrigation and cultivation in causing an increased rainfall is
alluded to by Surgeon-Major Costello, at page 177. On the other hand, Surgeon-
Major Dickson states at page 63, that the cutting down of jungles in Rajputana
is causing a gradual decrease of rainfall. There can be no question that ve-
getation and rain have an intimate reciprocal influence, and modifications such
as these would indicate that rain possesses a greater power over meteorology
and climate than has hitherto been supposed. The further study of the in-
fluence of the exercise of this power on health is one of very great practical
importance.
16. There is very little new to report regarding
Reciprocal
influence of
vegetation
and rain.
New lines for one squadron were built during the year for the 1st
Bengal Cavalry at Cawnpore ; the lines of the 19th Bengal Cavalry at Lucknow
were partly rebuilt, and their ventilation improved; 12 new huts were finished
for the 7th Bengal Cavalry at Seetapore ; 8 for the married men of the 2nd
Goorkhas at Dehra Doon ; 4 new barracks for the 11th Native Infantry at
Bareilly ; new married quarters and huts for the camp-followers of the 2nd
Sikh Infantry at Kohat, and new huts for the 16th Native Infantry at Tezpore.
In several stations the huts were rendered more comfortable by the addition
of verandahs or provision of trees for purposes of shade. The barracks built for
the 18th Native Infantry at Agra, which were noticed approvingly in last year's
report, continue to give satisfaction. The site and surroundings of some of the
lines are commented on unfavorably ; the lines of the 24th Native Infantry at
Jhansi, 3rd Bengal Cavalry at Nowgong, and 15th Native Infantry at Sealkote,
appear to be specially bad. The expedient adopted by the 31st Punjab Native
Infantry at Mooltan, namely, placing the men in tents to prevent overcrowding
(page 126) is worthy of recommendation and adoption when necessary.
New lines.
Verandahs
and trees.
Barracks at
Agra.
Bad lines.
On the Punjab Frontier, however, a fall of
unusual extent overtaxed the already insufficient drainage arrangements. This
was more especially the case at Edwardesabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Dera Ghazee
Khan, and Rajanpore. The drainage of Meean Meer, Roorkee and Mooltan
is still reported defective and difficult, owing to the dead level of these stations ;
some excavations and hollows have been filled up in the latter station, and
improvements have been carried out at Alipore and Dehra Doon. Gowhatty
and Dinapore suffer from back-water in the rains. An experiment has been
made in the former station for the purpose of securing the more rapid emptying
of the swamp which lies behind the station. It is also intended to undertake
the systematic drainage of the city of Ajmere at an anticipated cost of
Rs. 12,000. The drainage of the military cantonment at Silchar is reported to
be very defective, and an attempt to improve it by digging a tank in some
adjacent swampy ground has not been successful.
18. The term conservancy embraces every practice and expedient adopted
for the purpose of maintaining cleanliness and removing filth. The reports
show that this important object is kept very prominently in view by all
regimental authorities and their sanitary advisers. In cavalry regiments the
problem is a more difficult one on account of the large amount
o f ' l i t t e r ' w h i c h h a s t o b e g o t r i d o f . T h i s m a t e r i a l c a n i n m o s t p l a c e s b e s o l d t o a g r i c u l t u r i s t s
for manure, but when this cannot be done, no practice can be safer than
burning it as in the 7th Bengal Cavalry at Seetapore. Burial of so bulky a
mass of putrefying material cannot be commended unless it is done in shallow
trenches, and the ground so used is speedily cultivated. Special sources of
uncleanliness obtain in some stations, which are more difficult to deal with ; for
example the annually cited " Dorea nullah" at Nowgong. Measures are
however, to be adopted to improve this foul channel. Indeed, nullahs, wherever
Back-water.
Drainage
projects at
Ajmere and
Silchar.
Conservancy.
Horse litter.
Nullahs.