?214 Measures in the Bombay Presidency and Sind. [CHAP. VIII.
General
improvement of
sewage and
conservancy
arrangements.
GENERAL SANITARY PRECAUTIONS.
The general charge of the conservancy of the city was entrusted
to Surgeon-Major Barry on the 27th of February and remained with
him throughout the operations.
Appointment of
inspectors.
Work done.
The sewage and conservancy arrangements of the city were
found to be very defective, and Dr. Barry immediately set about
their improvement and reform. The first essential was to provide
an efficient supervising establishment. Eighteen British privates with
two non-commissioned officers were appointed conservancy inspectors.
A respectable English-speaking native was attached to each of these
as sub-inspector. During part of the time a British officer was de-
tached for their supervision. A new health officer was appointed, and
considerable additions were made to all branches of the subordinate
conservancy establishment. Special attention was paid to the systema-
tic flushing and disinfecting of privies and drains. The work of the
conservancy labourers was carefully supervised and the regular removal
of night-soil from privies was enforced. Open spaces and lanes as well
as the main streets were systematically cleared of rubbish. Steps
were taken by the issue of notices under the Municipal Act and
otherwise to cause insanitary privies to be put in a sanitary condition.
The city having been brought into a fair state of cleanliness, the special
subordinate conservancy establishments were ordered to be discharged
from May 16th. Twelve British non-commissioned officers and privates
with their sub-inspectors were however retained. The late Mr. Rand
was of opinion that the measures taken had the effect of materially
improving the sanitary condition of Poona, and that there was little
doubt that at the end of the main operations the city was cleaner
than it had ever been within the memory of living man.*
POONA CANTONMENT AND SUBURBAN MUNICIPALITY.
Arrangements
in the
cantonment and
in suburban
limits.
In the cantonment and the suburban municipality the work was car-
ried out under the control of the Plague Committee and on the same lines
as in the city. It is therefore not necessary to examine the details.
In the cantonment the operations were under the direct administration
of Colonel Newnham Smith, the Cantonment Magistrate, to whom the
Committee delegated certain of their powers. Similarly, in the
suburban municipality the Chairman of the Managing Committee took
immediate charge of the operation under powers delegated to him
by the Committee. Very few cases occurred within the suburban
limits.
* Unfortunately even these thorough precautions did not save Poona from a second
virulent outbreak of plague during the recrudescence.