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can pass through gauze of an even finer mesh than this. As a result of these
experiments " No. 22 S. W. G.9- mesh " will in future be used in all M. E. S.
buildings in Northern Command.
Anti-rat measures.—Definite anti-rat campaigns have been carried out in
cantonments for the prevention of plague at Poona where the work was com-
menced in 1933 and where a staff of 12 is employed, 10,473 rats were accounted
for of which 275 where examined in the laboratory for plague with negative
results. " Calcid, Baby dusters " using cyanide briquettes have been employed
effectively. These have also been used in other stations. At Wellington, the
campaign started in 1937, has been continued.
G. JOINT SANITARY BOARDS.
These are slowly making headway in Northern Command. The first was
-formed in Murree in 1933. During the present year 13 more have been formed
and have been found to do good. In certain areas the civil authorities have
not agreed to this form of co-operation. At Jhelum a joint Military-Civil-
Railway anti-malarial board has been functioning with effect.
The most important results achieved is the very fact that there is evidence
of co-operation, that the officers of different authorities meet one another to
discass problems and the liaison epidemics.
H. DAIRIES, MILITARY AND CIVIL.
Civil dairies where allowed in cantonments are nearly all local contrac-
tors dairies run in unsuitable premises, with untrained staffs, a minimum of
adequate apparatus and milking arrangements varying from indifferent to bad.
The trade they acquire in cantonments is due to price cutting and the giving of
credit. The only saving grace is the fact that the milk is usually boiled.
Government Military dairies and the products supplied by these have been
noted from Command and District reports as being satisfactory throughout the
year. The benefit from a pure milk supply needs no emphasis and cannot
readily be computed merely in terms of sickness.
Criticisms have been made from Southern Command that in that area the
milk is pasteurised at only a few dairies and that dairies have not been provided
at all stations where there are British troops.
Regimental dairies are run in some stations by unit arrangement and their
products are relatively satisfactory.
I. ICE AND MINERAL WATER FACTORIES.
Regimental mineral water factories are noted as being on the whole very
satisfactory. A piped water supply is a great safeguard. The introduction
of crown-cork instead of the insanitary cod-bottles is a slow matter on
account of the expense of changing stock and apparatus.
Ice factories in large stations are reasonably satisfactory, but small plants
are often far less so. The provision of a safe piped water supply is the real safe
guard in all these. The chief criticism of ice factories is the fact that, from the
nature of the freezing tanks, the employees have to walk about over the top
of the tanks. Where small freezing tanks are installed, such as the M. E. S.
plant at Bannu, this defect does not exist.
From Western Independent District the comment is made that the ice
ration is used for cooling mineral waters which the soldier then buys. " It is
extraordinary that, if the soldier wants a really cold drink, he has to buy it ".
At Karachi a neat cooler for drinking water has been made, consisting of an ice
box through which a pipe, laid in coils as is a coil of rope, supplies the drinking
water. As long as any ice remains cold water is available.