?161 every side should be thoroughly underdrained and the mouths of the drains so arranged as to allow the aeration of the soil as well as the removal of the sub-soil water. Dwellings should be raised above the level of the ground and provided with a ventilated air space underneath". These are no theoretical views. They are the expressions of an acknowledged authority, and similar advice has been urged at every opportunity by the Army Sanitary Commission and by the sanitary advisers to Government as one of the surest means of improving the health of British soldiers ; but as the soundness of this advice may be called in question, it is as well to give still further evidence on the point. Dr. Ford, President of the Board of Health, Philadelphia, in his chapter on 'Soil and Water,' published in Buck's work on Hygiene and Public Health, says :- "The extensive works for draining the sub-soil undertaken in all civilized countries for the advancement of agricultural projects have incidentally exerted a very beneficial influence upon the public health. The construction of sewers for the purpose of removing the surface water and the liquid refuse of towns has had the important effect of diminishing mortality, which effect is largely attributable to the drying of the sub-soil by lowering the ground water. The investigations of Dr. Buchanan with the object of determining the influence of the sewerage works of England on the public health have demonstrated this fact beyond a doubt. The following table shows the general improvement which has taken place in the health of twelve towns in consequence of drainage operations :- Name of Place. Population in 1861. Average mortality per 1,000 before construction of works. Average mortality per 1,000 since completion of works. Saving of life per cent. Reduction Typhoid Fever rate per cent. Reduction in rate of Phthisis per cent. Banbury 10,238 23.4 20.5 12½ 48 41 Cardiff 32,954 33.2 22.6 32 40 17 Croydon 30,229 23.7 18.6 22 63 17 Dover 23,108 22.6 20.9 7 36 20 Ely 7,847 23.9 20.5 14 56 47 Leicester 68,056 26.4 25.2 4½ 48 32 Macclesfield 27,475 29.8 23.7 20 48 31 Merthyr 52,778 33.2 26.2 18 60 11 Newport 24,756 31.8 21.6 32 36 32 Rugby 7,818 19.1 18.6 2½ 10 43 Salisbury 9,030 27.5 21.9 20 75 49 Warwick 10,570 22.7 21.0 7½ 52 19 The advantages derived from deep drainage of the sub-soil of towns are so manifest that there can be no longer any doubt as to the duty of local authorities to construct works in all urban districts with special reference to drying and aerating the sub-soil." The above results refer to towns in England, and it may be said that because this course has been successful in an English climate, it does not necessarily follow that the same results would be attained in a country like India where the climate is so different. If so, the following extract from the report of the Committee of Inquiry appointed by the Secretary of State for War in 1865 (Earl de Grey and Ripon) into the sanitary arrangements in force amongst the French troops in Algeria, will be a sufficient answer :- "It is our decided opinion that French experience in Algeria has shown that it is absolutely necessary to adopt drainage and improved agriculture in India and other tropical countries as the basis of their health arrangements, and that the required organisation for draining and for improving the agriculture of that great country must be introduced. These measures, indicated by the Royal Commission for diminishing malaria in India and other warm climates, cannot be said to rest any longer on theoretical considerations. Their practical results may be seen in Algeria. In all warm countries malarial disease is proof of the presence of malaria, but is also proof of unused riches in the soil. Make use of the riches and the malaria will cease to be of importance. This ought to be one of the main objects of Government in countries where the population suffers from malaria. "Probably the best way of accomplishing these great improvements would be for the authorities in India and in other warm climate colonies to execute the main drainage works in agricultural districts and to give every encouragement to the introduction of improved implements and methods of cultivation. B 357-41