264 Measures outside the Bombay Presidency. [ CHAP. IX.
"III.-Defects of private latrines.-The private latrines are in
many cases so constructed that they cannot be properly
cleaned, nor can the conservancy officers get access to
them; and consequently many of them are choked with
accumulations of filth.
"IV.-State of house-drains and down-pipes.-The house-drains
and down-pipes are in many cases broken, choked, and
out of repair.
"V.-State of surface drains.-The surface drains are blocked
with foul matter, latrines are allowed to discharge into
them, and the drains themselves are often used as lat-
rines.
"VI.-Neglect of road scavenging.-The scavenging of the roads
is imperfectly carried out; the staff is inadequate for the
work; and the subsoil has become dangerously polluted.
"VII.-State of compounds and courtyards.-The condition of
the compounds and courtyards of houses is in many cases
extremely filthy.
"VIII.-Pollution of wells.-Wells in courtyards are contami-
nated by the percolation of sewage impurities from the soil.
"IX.-State of cowsheds and stables.-Cowsheds and stables are
situated in thickly populated places: their construction
is faulty; they are greatly overcrowded, and their flooring
is soaked with sewage, which pollutes the wells on the
premises.
"X.-State of hackney carriage stands.-The number of hackney
carriage stands is wholly insufficient to meet the current
requirements of the town, and they are imperfectly flushed
and cleansed.
"XI.-Condition of bustees.-Bustees are badly drained and im-
perfectly ventilated; the huts are too close together; the
latrine arrangements lead to the pollution of the soil;
the roads and lanes are too narrow, and conservancy is
imperfectly carried out."
The Governments
of India and
Bengal consider
the situation very
grave.
After reading the report on the sanitary inspection the Gov-
ernment of India informed the Government of Bengal that
they viewed the position with grave concern, and that they fully
agreed with the view expressed by the Lieutenant-Governor (Sir
Alexander Mackenzie) to the Medical Board, that it constituted a
standing menace to the health of Calcutta. The remarks made in pre-
vious chapters of this report on the paramount influence of insanitary
conditions in fostering the growth of plague epidemics indicate the