194

SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.

     49.There is a point in connection with the conservancy of Jacobabad to which I made
especial reference in my report for 1871, and which, I think, ought to be insisted upon, as I
believe it plays no insignificant part in the general causes which, by common consent, confer
such an unenviable notoriety for unhealthiness upon this frontier station. The roads in and
around Jacobabad are computed at 15 miles; and I allude to the practice of annually covering
these more or less with quantities of the elephant grass (typha elephantina,) where it lies to
rot until replaced the following year with fresh. But during all this time it receives into it
the dung of cattle and other organic refuse, which in wet weather becomes of course most
offensive, and in which state it must necessarily prove a source of unhealthiness to
the community, and especially in the sadar bazar, against which it would not be diffi-
cult to bring various charges of neglect of the most common rules of sanitation; it
would be very desirable to exclude this additional element in the production of disease.
The obvious remedy for this evil is, in the absence of stone, to make the roads of pounded bricks
and lime; and there being materials at hand in the numerous old ruins, walls, and deserted
lines, no great expense would be necessary to make a fair commencement; and every year
would witness a gradual extension. If the above suggestions for the sanitary improvement of
Jacobabad were completely carried out, some of the causes of local disease would be, if not re-
moved, at least greatly diminished, and the healthiness of the station increased in corresponding
degree. But I would not be misunderstood or have it supposed that, even under these altered
circumstances, Jacobabad would not always rank as the most unhealthy station for troops in
the whole Bombay Presidency.

     50. With the statistics of the past year before me, and especially taking into considera-
tion the continued unsatisfactory condition of the 30th Regiment N.I., I can only repeat what
I said in my report for 1871, regarding the desirableness of removing the whole of the Upper.
Sind Brigade for a period of not less than 3 years to a more healthy climate.

[Table