The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-09 00:00:00

THE SANITARY STATE OF THE ARMY IN

YID-1A:

This morning was leaned the report (dated
May 19) of the commissioners appointed to inquire into the
sanitary state of the army in India. The report occupies in
All 171 pages ; and then there is a prone of evidence which
occupies nesrly 100 pages more.
The following are a few ont of ► series of 39 recom-
mendations by the commissioners :—That no recruit be
sent to India under 21 years of age, nor until he has com-
pleted his drill at home, and that mastitis be sent direct from
home to India, so as to land there early in November.
That no spirits be issued to troops on board ship, except
on the recommendation of the medical officer in charge.

That the sale of spirits at canteens be discontinued, except
in specific cases on the recommendation of the medical officer,
. . .

and only malt liquor or light wines allowed. That the eels
of spirits in military bazaars be made illegal, and, as far as
practicable, suppressed. That the ration be modified to
suit the season. That flannel be introduced as ander•cloth-
ing, and a better system of supplying boots introduced.
That the means of instruction and recreation be extended
to meet the requirements of each station. That covered
sheds for exercise and gymnastics be provided, and that
gymnastic exercises be made a parade. That libraries be
improved, • better supply of books and periodicals pro-
vided, together with reading rooma, well lighted at
night. That only coffee, tea, and other aon-uitoxicat-
leg drinks be sold to the men at these rooms. That
workehops be established. and also soldiers' gardens, in
connexion with the station, wherever practicable. That
the proposal made by Sir C. Trevelysn of selecting and
educating soldiers of good character for subordinate offices
in the administrative departments be tried. That until the
mortality bej reduced, the period of service in India
be limited to ten years. That all new barracks be
constructed to hold no wore than a quarter company in
each building, or at most half a company in ono
building in two separate rooms having no direct comma-
nicatiou with each other. That hospitals be era-
strutted in detached pavilions containing 00 MOM than
from twenty to twenty•four beds. That future barracks
and hospitals be arranged en echelon to receive the benefit
of prevailing winds. That detached cottages be erected
for married soldiers. That the hospital diet tables
in use at home stations be adopted io India as far as practi-
cable, and the hospitals supplied with properly trained cooks.
That trained hospital attendants be introduced into
all hospitals, and that female nurses, under the new
medial regulations, be introduced into large general
hospitals. That a sufficient number of hill stations or of
stations on elevated ground be provided ; and that • third
part of the force be located on these stations in rotation.
In order to the gradual introduction of sanitary improve-
menta for barracks, hospitals, and stations, as well
as in the seats of government and throughout towns in
proximity to military. stations, they recommend the
appointment of commissions of public health, one for
each presidency, so constituted as to represent the
various elements, civil, military, engineering, sanitary,
and medical ; to give advice and assistacce in all matters
relating to the public health, such as selection of new
stations and the sanitary improvement of existing ***time
and bazaars ; to examine new plans for barracks sad
hospitals ; w advise on the laying out of stations and
bazaars, the sanitary improvement of native towns,
prevention and mitigstioo of epidemic diseases, and
generally to exercise a constant oversight on the sanitary
condition of the population, European and native ; to
report on the prevalence, cellar, and means of preventing
sickness and disease ; and further that administrative mea-
sures be adopted to give effect to the advice of the presi-
dency commissions. That trained medical officers of health
be appointed to act, in peace or in war, in connexion with
these oommissions. That • code of regulation., embodying
the duties and adapted to the specialties of the lodise
sanitary service, be drawn up and issued under authority.

THE TRIPLE MURDER AND SUICIDE NEAR BATH.
The inquests upon the bodies of the three children, Matilda,
John, and Alfred Cole, who were drowned by their mother
in the Kennett and Avon Canal at Bathampton, near Bath.
as reported in our columns yesterday, sod also upon the
body of the unhappy woman, Sarah Cole, who committed
suicide at the same time, were held at the George Inn,
Bathampton yesterday, before Bruges Fry, Esq., coroner
for the eastern division of Somerset. Great interest was
felt in the case, which is rendered even more melancholy
from the fact that the sad occurrence seems to have been
in some measure the result of the dissipation of the husband.
The inquest-room was crowded during the proceedings. A
verdict was returned that the mother, Sarah Cole, had
taken away her owe life and the lives of her children, being
at the time of unsound mind, memory, and understanding.
A Scorer DEPUTATION IN A " you
never hear of the trick be played upon the deputation
from the synod of Cleishmaclaver, while on their way to
the annual meeting of the General Assembly? The
brethren had started by coach at en early hour, and had to
travel 10610 twenty miles before they reached the inn
where breakfast err prepared for them. The keen air of
our northern bills sharpens the appetite; and when the
brethren drove up to the inn they were almost famished
with hunger. " Now, gentlemen, just ten minutes for
breakfast, said the coachman, as he entered the landlady's
snug little parlour to have his own. Ten minutes ! The
time was short, so they must make the moot of it. They
rushed into the room where breakfast was weed, end
there, basking his ample person before the fire, stood a
portly gentleman, dressed somewhat like a dignitary of the
church of England. Their appetite was keener than their
curiosity, so they scarcely looked at the stranger, but
concentrated all their attention on the viands. Hall way
in the air before the morsel had reached their lips, their
hands were arrested by a sudden cry of "Stop!" It was
the supposed dean or bishop. " Good heavens, gentlemen
he exclaimed, " have you so far forgotten your sacred pro-
fess/on as to partake of food without invoking a blessing
The brethren looked like schoolboy, detected in some
flagrant fault ; but before they had time to remonstrate or
explain, the same voice exclaimed, in a tone which en-
forced obedience, "Let us pray." They instinctively
sprung to their feet, and assumed an attitude of deconeis
devotion, while the stranger offered up a prayer which,
they themselves admitted, was superior in unction and ex-
pression to those of Dr. Drawlitout himself. He had
only one fault—be did not know when to stop. The
minute. rolled tepidly away, but the stream of fen ent
supplication flowed on without a break. They had a terrible
struggle the brethren had, as they closed one eye in devo-
tion and ogled the savoury viands with the other ; but
whenever a hand approached the table, it drew back before
the stern glance of the stranger, which seemed to compte-
bend them all. The sufferings of Tantalus ware nothing to
the sufferings of the deputation from the synod of Cleish-
maclaver ; but all things must come to an end. "Time is
up, gentlemen," said the coachman, opining the door, and
wiping his mouth with the air of a man who has enjoyed
his breakfast. The appearance of the coachman and the
sound of his familiar voice broke the spell ; but there was 00
time to be lost ; the horses were shaking their herds and
wing the ground, in their impatience to start ; so they
had
to take their seats, and to turn breakfast KW dinner
into one. " Was that the Bishop of D said one of the
famished brethren. "That the Bishop of le—l" said the
coachman, contemptuously. " Why that was Lord -,
j the maddest wag in all the kingdom."—Fraser's Mage:ine
for July.
Tourists are this year in great numbers in Savoy.
There are now at Aix 500 visitors more than there were ot
this time kat year. At the bitth,, of St. Gervais great
ticulty is already found iu piocuring lodgings.