Observations on the evidence contained in the stational reports submitted to her by the Royal Commission on the Sanitary State of the Army in India / by Florence Nightingale.

  • Nightingale, Florence, 1820-1910.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the evidence contained in the stational reports submitted to her by the Royal Commission on the Sanitary State of the Army in India / by Florence Nightingale. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    At Bangalore, the Ulsoor tank, used for drinking, is the outlet for the whole drainage of a most filthy- bazaar (125,000 inhabitants), for that of our cavalry, infantry, and horse artillery barracks, and of the greater proportion of the station. The commander-in-chief says, 'the disgustingly filthy ' nature of the source, from which the water used ' at Bangalore is taken, has been brought to notice ' scores of times by me within the last 4^ years; ' but, as usual, nothing has been done to remedy ' this most crying evil.' Even the wells from which drinking water is taken are impure from sewage. They are open; and 'when they get dirty are ' cleaned.' At Secunderabad, as much as 119 grs. of solid matter, and, as it would appear, 30 grs. of organic matter per gallon, are found in some of the well and tank water. [Secunderabad and Poona are almost the only stations which give a chemical analysis.] At Surat 'no one thinks of drinking the camp ' water.' At Asseerghur the same tank is used for drinking and bathing. ' For the former the natives slightly ' clear away the surface.' Asseerghur thinks that its water ' smells good.' The application of chemical science to water supply appears hardly to be in its infancy in India. The arrangements for raising and distributing water are everywhere, as Bombay Presidency