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·Extracts Forom the
Topography And vital
Statistics tf Calcutta
1837
Has.
Lahrorican
Uttarpara Jaykrish's Publie: Lidran
Govt. of Beat Bungal

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·OOT Paulo Psic LIBRARY 1853 EXTRACTS FROM THE TOPOGRAPII YAND VITAL STATISTICS CALCUTTA, EMBRACING, OBSERVATIONS ON THESE SUBJECTS FORMED AT DIF. FERENT PERIODS, AND OFFICIALLY PUBMITTAD TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITI 15, BY F. P. STRONG, SURGEON, 24.PERGUNN A II S. TO TIIOS. SMITII, Esq. T Mewber of the Medical Board und Sprutanding Surgeon. *** ART. VII.--Corresponder or connecteil with the Typography of Calcutta med its rientro Comunitiented by I. P. STRONG, Esq. Civil Sugron, Culcuitu Suller, 8c. luyust 29th, 1837. $1.-In answer to your circular of July 20th, forwarding for my perioad, a letter from the Secretary to the Merlicul Boud to your addresa, expressing the desire of the Board to afford every practicable age sisfaire to such gentlemen as may be engaged in Crawing up topographicnl accounts of stations in your division ; I have the honor to forwaril copies of several papers, written som vears ago, upon this city, its suburle, the salt inarskics, and the Sunderluns, south-east to the sea; an to which I harc aided notes in the margine ii further elucidation. I also have annexed other rapers more Intely written, bearing apon the same subject, and a letter* to Lord Fillian Beninck written by a committee which was formed of gentlemen in the suburbs in consequence of my first communication upon the subject in 1828. A small mar shewing the bearing of the different paris alluded to is appended, in which Mr. Tassin has, at my request, painted the Salt Lake of a bluish color, and the low thick salt-water jangai, between the further end of the lake and Tarda, green ; while he laos represented the lands granted to various persons towards the wod of the year 1829 and in 18:0, in yellowish green color ; to slew their position, the line drawn with cariniue points out the new eastern caral, the purple show is alt route by Tolly's Nullah, and the orange shcws the route by channel . 45447 here annexed. .

·2 TOPOGRAPHY OF CALCUTTA. creek. This is a map made only last year, and is not the map I allude to in my papers for further infor:nation. There is a large one of the lake and Calcutta by the late Captain Prinsep, giving the levels also ; and there are other larger maps by Tassin, of Calcutta and the Sur. derbuns, shewing all the individual grantee's grounde, numbered, and pointing out the new eastern navigation, projected, and partly carried into execution, by the late Major Schalch, in a more particular manner than this small map will admit of. One of the letters annexed will shew that I was called upon by the late Governor General Lord Wil. liam Bentinck to attend a committee at the Government Ilouse upon the subject of draining Calcutta, and the drainage and filling up of the Salt-water Lake. The committee was composed of fourteen gentlemen, and Ilis Lordship alluded to his own experience in such matters having induced him to call this meeting in order that it might be continued by his successor, and mentioned his communications with the Court of Directors, and their assent to his views in the affair of draining the lake. The committee was to meet again, but Ilis Lordship's illness prevented it, and the subject appears to have slept ever since, except that the public prints have occasionally thrown out the views of different writers interested both for, and against. IIis Lordship had his own plan for draining the lake printed, together with that of the late Cape tain Prinsep, and his questions to that gentleman and the answers thereto. There were also some other papers annexed to these, bearing upon the subject, all of which I gave to Sir John Grant, who has given them to Lord Auckland. They are interesting as connected with the subject of my papers, and should I be able to obtain a copy from the Military Board, or elsewhere, I will send them to you. I would add, that when I first waited upon the Gurernor General, no part of the eastern cir. cular canal had been commenced upon, not a hue had been applied to the ground, nor had a tree been felled ; and I then upderstood, that although the whole ground had been purchased by Government for the entire line of the new eastern canal from its eutrance from the Búghbazár floodgates, to the old Entally canal which runs into the lake, get, that some obstruction, or difficulty, presented itself to this improvement being effected. Viewing this as the nucleus of all improvement with a view to effect a healthiness in this city, I took with me a map of Calcutta, with the projected canal drawn out in pevcil, the more clarly to point out what I conceived of the utmost importance, and I was gratified to find that Ilis Lordship took the same view of it that I did, and acted upon it, though I was given to understand that he met with considerable opposition ; it is now however finished, and has been so for some time, there is considerable traffic upon it, and the monthly tolls form a cone siderable item of profit,* although the failure of the mercantile houses By a Statement in Appendix I. page 145, by Mr J. P, Morris, late Clerk to the Municipal Committee, it appears that there is a Surplus Balance up to 30th April, 1845, 0f 15,14.7m Rupees, in favor of the Calcutta Canals exclusive of Interest, while the receipts ( the two following years were 1843-10.. 1,93,759 11 7816-17.... .... 3,95,574 5 1 The Dallighetta Canal previous to the excavation of the Circular Canal only yielded 17,797 Rs. per annum, it yielded in the scar 1845, 1,38,745.-F. P. S. 1848. ..................

·TOPOGRAPHY OP CALCUTTA. 3 has materially deteriorated the value of the ground Government have to dispose of on each side of this canal. It has six suspension bridges over it, and a pucke rond on its western bank. The first paper marked 1828, may be considered entirely topogra. phical, and was written about the time that I addressed the Sudder Nizamut Audawlut upon the general unhealthiness of the suburbs of Calcutta. I informed the Governor General that I had made such a report in my official correspondence with that Court, and I found afterwards that my remarks were recommended to the attention of the Go. veruor General in Council. This led to a communication with the Magistrate of the suburbs, and 21- Pergunpalis, then one district, bringing my report to his notice, and desiring his attention upon the sub. ject ; hic immediately put himself in communication with the Eatally committee, and some time afterwards Mr Jolin llaster, the Magistrate, shened me a plau of his own for the improrement of the suburbs, and the sites were marked upon his map of the 21. Pergunnag, where he pro. posed to bave large tanks excavated and roads made. Besides this, the Entally committee had several interviews with Lord William Bentinck, and gave into Ilis Lordship's hands, their plans of improvement, of wluck she letter I hare alluded to, forms only a part; they also gave in maps of the jungals, roads, and grounds generally, and the then price of the land, &c.; sites for tiphs were I know fixed upon and marked ; but Ilis Lordship went up the country, and nothing has been done. The second paper was written some months afterwards, and may be considered as departing in a small degree from strict topography, since I hare intermined the subject of soils, and of boring for water, agri. culture, cc.; but as regards the proper formation of tanks, the draining off of water, and wells, perhaps these subjects may be cousidered Adonissible as regarding public liealth. The new canal had been begun, and was rapidly going on, and that work threw some light upon the general nature of the suil, ani confirmed the opinion given by Sir Hyde Erst, that the dampuess of the climate was not to be attributed to the innist nature of the soil, which was thought by some to be full of springs, and it also confirmed his opinion of an ancient forest having in former times existed much below the present surface of the earth, numernus and large trees were every where met with, many of them in an erect position." Such was also found to be the case in the Dºw canal made by Major Setalch, running eastward from the other end of the lake at Bamanghotta to Hussiugabad, sɔne of the wood had arrived almost at the state they call lignite. Most other parts of this paper are essentially topographical, and poiut particularly to facts, and • Tire Superintendent, a very intelligent native, intorms me that in the canal beyond the lake the trees were many of them very large, and were found in the greatest number about 30 inile- beyond the lake near Hussincabiul ; many were very rotten, the rest were used for burning. Among them he reungnized the scondry, the byen, thu gouah, and other forest trees; their truphs were of all sizes, and he supposes that along a line of 3.) iniles they were in number from 5 to loin a mile. As li the depth of such trees those I saw in the nearer circular canal had their routs about or soniewhat below the bottom of the canal, and I saw a large tre about the same depth in a tank digging on the borders of the lake. the workmen said this was a jack tree.

·TOPOGRAPHY OF CALCUTTA. to unhealthy localities, and although towards the end of the paper I have advocated particularly the growth of cotton in the Sunderbuns, As well as coffee and sugar, I do not like to separate or divide the paper, for I advise the measure as a main means of reducing the jangal and forest, and consequently of reducing malaria. And if my third paper should be thoughi to give a long detail regarding boring, it yet shews the exertions that were necessary on my part to keep the esperiment going ; and we have now attained a depth of apwards of 400 feet, well tubed with cast iron, and the operation is going on with spirit. My further remaksadrocating the cutting down the Sunderbun jangals, will, I hope, though a little lengthy, be pardoned as tending to produce A more lrri hy state than at present exists. I fancy myself further borne out in not selecting parts only of these papers, or altering their original diction, from the " sketch" of a plan for memoirs on inedicnl topographir sent round with the circular by the Medical Board to guide us iu some degree. I there see sens, rivers, Inkes, wells, morasses, hogs, aud canals noted as points on which the topographer should bestow considerable attention, as they so materially affect the dryness or mois. ture of a country. The deposits, animal, vegetable, and mineral are also mentioned, among several other matters which I had touched upon I find evaporation of surface, and vegetable products mentioned, and an allusion to the comparative healtbiness of the villages in the Netherlands, as ascertainable by the inspection, of their wells; and the state of agriculture, and populntion, being also mentioned, makes me hope that I shall not be blamed for not learing out what I have said of Baron Hanbolut, and also of the campine of Brabant in the Netherlands, and the Abbé Man's remarks upon the game ; and I need not apulogize for what I have stated from Jiacculloch's work on the prevalence it copzetic diseases appearing among catile, at the noted seasons of epidemir irrer anong men, because I find in the sketch" circulated by the Bund, those that is a subject that should be inquired into by the inpographer. Indeed, I should have found a difficuliy in making any alteralicus in my papers. It will be seen in the accompanying papers I have allcided to Mr Martin's paper on the medical topography of Calcutta and its suburbs ; but there is one part of it wich I have omitted to refer to, but which, as surgeon to the suburbs and 21- I'ergunnalis, I ought perhaps to notice. Mr Martin suggests that the police surgeon should report upou the state of bubitations, sewers, streets, roads, tanks, &c., and that he "sbould also report minutely on the stute of the suburbs.”. The late Dr. Vos, the then Police surgeon, in whose opinion, as to the necessity of improvou: ut in the suburbs 1 fully concur, was accordingly called upon by Már Vartin for his sentiments. Mrwartin svas nut I believe aware that my duties as surgeon to the suburbs, liad out only brought to my attention the importance of the subject, but had induced me, at an care lier period than the date of his papers, to make the repeated reports de tailed in the accompanying papers. I merely allude to this, as any person reading only Mr Martin's papers, might be led to infer, from the suggestion to extend the duties of the Police surgron to the suburbs, that the surgeon of the suburbs bad omitted all notice of the obvious ·TOPOGRAPHY OF CALCUTTA. causes affecting the health of that portion of the district under his charge, whilst in reality, it has not been for want of representation of their bad effects, that the various causes of unhealthinees in the suburbs have been allowed to exist in their full rigor until, as I am glad to ob. serve, they have at last attracted the notice of other medical officers besides myself. Findmytiat the printed papers advocating the fever. hospital, Se, were in circulation, I forwarded to the Government the three first of the accompanying papers, and that upon the effect of the inundations, and I received from Mr Mongles an answer, that my opinions would not be ov:rlooked wiren the inattais to which they raie enne under the militation ut livrencat. i anuex a copy on the correspondence fur your information. The fourth paper which I ad nie to be rather ramblins and irregular in its c'x'acter, was written, as Miras I can recollect in 1931), At the request ciche lata Captain Horiert, alltid is in continuation of SOT poners I had alren'ir given hinn ?!!I the sa ine subject, but which hat relation more particularly to the riy avid native town ci Cricutia, alvo including the laht nud Sunderbuns ; but Captain Ihrbert ripulised further information respectius 194 suburbs, as the ti! state o! ilie!!! 114 Thult was live in ile trelli'l (41193 of selvina He said he considered that to these parts, i's."? With ji_ie:t sie in breathe, without inialus discere, and that the lur 25 Mo'min of Vegetation every wired 1421 vielut: od vlages produced the inalaus atmosphere, which not only int'unced the sabaw, but extended iis ciicts tu'the chy. Ile intended to have published his opinions in hum Gleanings in science, as iflarks on the Malarial Topography of Calcutta audi's neiunantheoul. Iudeed he find begun this paper, and ld considerably advanc Jin it, when his departure trou the Preskleucy caused hum to trailer the work to other lands, und he then gave up inis papui upou maleriin. This paper or memurun dan ia mpirl from a rough paper intend. ed simply as a skeleton tur tipi. Herliert to build upon ; luosely watten as it is, it may not be irrikitait to the suinject of topography, as it contains some allusion to tacts, which may nue be ?! getuier useie-s. All the above papers were written ceseni or aizlid pears a:0: but the next paper, or letter," whicii, althonglı luni. is a quellon al gether about cliinnte, was for the inforınation of ilic conmigiilor of the districts contiguous in Calcuila ; and an answer to inquiry issued on the part of Government, endeavouring if porouble to sievi the more healthy from the unhealthy districts, with a view to scili pirouers who are banished, to those districts that are connd to be the inust heaithy. It will be seen in this letter, tlint I enter upon the subject with as much care and attention as I can command ; this subject was a dificult one, and it was an answer to u circular which was addressed to all the other civil surgeons as well as to the magistreres ; and the commissioner informs me that my letter was the only one of all those lie received that he had forwarded to the superior court, the Suluer Nizamut Adawut, and he said he did 80, because lie thought it containe * This is now placed atter Colouel Sykus's Analysis of mr Vital Statis.

·6 TOPOGRAPHY OF CALCUTTA. ed a good denl of useful information ; such being the case, I hope, I shall be pardoned for forwarding it to you on this occasion. Perhaps the health of prisoners in a district may not be allogether a very bad criterion of the healthiness, or otherwise of a district. The question had reference to banished prisoners and those in the Allipore jail being all banished prisoners and for life also, induced me to make a comparison of the mortality among them for a series of years. I found the average mortality little more than 5 per cent, which considering that every man must die there, in the proportion did not appear great. In cities and other places, and departments as in the army with a regi. ment, or in other services, they retire, become pensioned or otherwise quitting, leave the field for others, and do not remain to swell the mor. Lality; but in this jail where mea-many of them coming in, advanced in age-are located for life, a larger mortality ought to be expected than among other boilies. I therefore come to the conclusion that it is healthily situated, and it will not appear inconsistent with my opinion expressed in the former letter, as to the general causes of unhealthiness, because those causes are obvinted in this particular case. The jail is an open space clear of jungal, and these prisoners are free to breathe good pure air in the absence of all jangal, filth, bad water and other nuisances of which I complain as affecting the suburbs generally. The air is clear, and the jail tank probably the best of any, either in or near Calcutta , and I think it is an instance which goes to prore the correct. ness of the opinion of those who sce sickness and death produced by malaria where it is allowed to exist; As for instance, in the character of the diseases and death which I allude to in the margin of my second paper, in the case of Prince Sooroodeen who allowed jangal to grow up to his very doors at Russapagnlah, and whose continuance of life for several genrs was a source of surprise to myself. It may be that the quantity of opium he took mny for a time have counteracted the poison of malaria which killed his only two sons wlien infants, and spread disease among bus domestics. The Mr Ward I allude to in the inargin of the meinorandum for Captain Herbert, is another strong instance I would add in proof, and in addition to the facts and localities I point out in my calier papers, I am sorry now to add another case to swell the list of mortality arising from the same cause. In all other respects, it most intelligent native doctor who had been in my service for nearly twenty years, could not be made to understand that his coutinuance in his family house at Bhawanipore surrounded by malaria would be the death of him. I often 80 assured him, and took the greatest pains for a year or two, but all without effect ; an old jangal piggery inhabited by chumars and pigs was the place of his residence, and his disenses were first intermittent and remittent fever, dysentery, spleen, and he died dropsical. The Allipore jail I consider to be situated in the healthiest part of the suburbs, and the whole of Allipore being perhaps somewhat higher and better drained, or from the nature of its soil, which is sandy, does appear to me to have advantages over all the other suburbs, if perhaps the open and airy part of Balleegunge be excepted. If I am rightly informed, the inundatiou of 1333 which produced sickness in every house ·TOPOGRAPHY OF CALCUTTA. 7 in Garden Reaclı, had not any serious effects either in the open parts of Balleeguuge, or Allipore, while all the inhabitants of the rest of the suburbs were considerable sufferers, and great mortality was produced arrong the patire population of those parts. The consequence of this flooding was felt even in the city, for by the Police reports the mortality in 1833 nearly doubled that of the preceding year, no doubt increased by the rast number of the 24 Pergannah sufferers, both rich and poor focking into the city, turned ont of their habitations by the floods, arriving also for medical aid, as I have remarked in my paper upon the subject written just after the inundation. The soil of Halleegunge I have found by the borings I bare inade there to be very sandy, (indeed the place takes its name from bálii or suud, which is luglily calculated to carry off or absorb superfluous water ; and I would here remark that the lands to the southeast as far as Gurriah-haut, and very far beyond that place are an open plain, occasionally with the exception of garden cultivation, cultivated with rice or tobacco to the extent of many inies, sariwents; and is is only here and there that villages are to be seen, and these at a great distance fruin each other. It appears to me, and I wish t) press it upon the minds of those who consider this subject, that the maldianCalcutta has to coirplain of is rery greatls, although not entirely in the surrounding crowded villiages, and more particularly those to the eastward between the Salt Lake, and the Jansatta Dich, fur admittag what 110w seems to be uncontradicted, tint this lake is highly productive of malaria—the air, wlled the wind is eastward of us has to liud its way to our city, only over swanips, jangals and villages them. selves highly productive of the same malaria, and therefore not calculated to dispel the evil. The advantage en red by Calcutta when the wind is suuth, is that it passes over a large iract of country with very few villages ; besides which there is the fine murdán south of the city to neutralize what malaria it possibly may contain ; A sinilar remark may be said to apply in sumie degree when the wind is in the north, and on the west the river is some safeguard, but the castern is nolurivusly the bad wind, aud I think here it is sufficiently accounted for. Should the researches now making tend to a better knowledge of tbese facts, some atteinpis at improvement may Vory slow and grauual improvements have no douit, been adopted by the few Europeaus and others of intelligence, who have at different periods inhabited our eastern suburbs, so much so, that among Luropeans life is much more safe thau it was half a century ago, when we know from well authenticated records that the mortality was tughttully great, and we find the Salt-water Lake recorded as the most prominent of the Should cleauliness ever obtaio in these eastern suburbs and the Salt Lake become drained and cultivated, I eatertaiu no doubt whaterer of great healthiness being the result ; and one great advantage attend. ing the drainage of the lake would be, that the country between it and the city would immediately improre, become more valuable, and be the report of a more respectable population, Condence. causes.

·8 TOPOGRAPHY OF CALCUTTA. jo Howerer malaria may be generated, there can be no doubt that it is produced most abundantly in all those parts of Bengal which are not cleared of jaugal, drained, and kept clear. Within my recollection the maidia south of our cier was niore swanipy, and corcred with a coarer grass than it now is, and many parts of the native town, and Chowringhee, are much improved, brral roads and squares liaving been made, and it is quite olvinus to me tha fovers and diseases in gencral arc by mcans so common as when I commenced practice here; I am so certain on this point, that I will not waste time by catering into particu. Jurs. Further drainage and more free circulation of air will still farther Tuprot It public health, and it is admiited on all hands that attention iand improrement in our city drains is indispensible to effect the good desiol. hit, I dink we must look to 1.c in:prorement of the surrounding subur!s, and lands beyond, effcctually to render this city as liealthy as it can be made; and without attempting to investigate the chemical finals oficiu, or to describe what micuical treatinent slivuld be rdupied for diseases produced by this poiso", I will endeavour to draw ailentinopoin: the numerous causes existing all around us. Ll: loch around us, and we find all the essentials necessary for the foziratin of malaria ; beyond our city jangals, lules, marshes, gardeos Hosped with trees, and woods of very description, nnd weeds, Stig war. Althy pools, and low grass jangals of every kind sur- Ilik ile ulazers' habitations. In these exist ample means for n cinstant snippie s'the poison, asisted, as they are, by the natural bent and nic.isture withe climate ; but when immatural or meteoric changes of climate take place, or whın unna!ural imodations of sea, or rivor valer occur, then, as we should expect, we find disease and death Ecourge the land, as was instanced by the inundation of 1833 in par. ticular, mod os siewn broll the other* inundacions also. Such excess of mortality is in lespected in Bengai when inundations, or unusual moisture föllun od 5 great heat orcur. As common cause of the constant oralaria that pictail: here I would mention the cxposure of # Tast cxpanse of wit m d on the receding of the tide from the Salt- Water Lair, ara lan.s of the virus, and tide harboursit would not be dificult 19 (Ulcerute mon causes, but the above are sufficient. Within the city among 1117](polis other causes we find sewers and drains sadly neglecteil, allowing their decomposed and decomposing animal, vegetable. But other substances to suik into the earth, instead of drain. ing off 99 il y should do into the river or the circular canal. Here perhaps iu supie particulnr state of the ground, the soil inay be of a nature calcutatud 10 receive the poison, and it probably condenses and accumu. lates, forming as it were, a permanent attachment to the spot, and for wliat we know, certain peculiar solid bodies casually exposed to it may receive it also, whether the poison be produced by common putrefaction, or by any peculiar change in the cleinents of vegetable matter, dead or dying. It scerns to be admitted that we know not its exact chemical character, though it is acknowledged that it is pro- * Those of 1031, 1532, and 1834.

·TOPOGRAPHY OF CALCUTTA. 9 duced and propagated by wet soi's, hot countries, A particular state of atmosphere and high leniperature, and with this knowledge we do possess power to control and check to a very condsiderable degree this entensive cause of mortality. We know bv authentic records that it is but little more than a century ago when London, from its then filthy state and bad drainage, was subject to very great mortality, and as civilization has adranced, the coul....sj as well as the cities in Europe have also improved in healthiness. Dr. Bisset Ilnwkins describes in his work lately written on medical statistire, that mortality has diminished in nearly the same degree, in which the prosperity of these chantries has grarlually increased. In England and Wales for instance, the annual deatlıs were, in the census of 1750, so numerous as I in 10. busull they were 1 in 47. Su in France (a more malarial country it miylit have been remaried) the una dal mortality was in the year 1781, 1 in 2'), and in 1902, 1 10 31). In london le consiilors that now, 1 person in t0 dies annually, while le gives the mortality of Limand and Wales at the present tine l in 0(, a considerable improveitout since the year 17-0, when it was I in 10. Doctor Hawhins gates the mortality of rarious continental cities, and coinpares thein with the country torinlity, wlich it exceeds in every instanca. He remeria that mortality or the calculation of the number of deaths wäich occur nu a country, or town, has become an important object of research, and that tables are formed in 2!110st every chiland state by direc:ion of the Gorernancut in order to ascertain the point. In some districts this amonut is increasoil, or diminished in a slight degree, hy direct, and hyderal causes, but on the whole, i: Appeal's tint the roud or bad condron if a pip.plc, ihe per sion of the necessaries of life, or their absence, millones vr right of the unde of Governdent, the advance or retrogression of huvwiedge, are the principal (!Icinstances whicla influence the result. The greatest difference it' mortality in city and country, appears in Iloillanid, where in Imsterdain the deatlis wore 1 in 21, while in the comiy it was l in 15. In the city of Naples 1 in 8, in the country ! 11.7 In the city of Paris 1 12:32. in France ! in 10. I may be allowed to quote Dr. Ilawkins' concluding reasoning upon this inportant subject, Lite and death, then, inainly depend upon the prosperity of the circunstances which surround 113: physical prosperity and moral happiness, which ofteu depemil, and re-act upon each other. present a safeguard at every crisis of existence both to individuals and to nations. We may oftenjule with tolerable accuracy of the mortality which is likely to exist in any given country, tor, or hospital, from the degree in which poverty or wealth, knowledge or ignorance, misfortune or success, are seen to prevail ; wherever want and misery exist, there the mother is more likely to die io labor, there still-births will be more frequent, there the deutlis during infance will be more numerous, there epidemics will ruge more violently, there the recoveries from disease will be niore tedious, and the tata! termination of it more probable, and there also will death usually approach at an enrlier period of life than in happier situations. It will be seen in the statistical account of the British empire just pub by J. R. Mac- ·10 TOPOGRAPHY OF CALCUTTA, culloch, Esq., under the head of vital statistics, that between the years 1813 and 1830 be calculates the annual murtality in London at 2.84 per cent and for six towns in England for the same number of years as At 2.95, and he estimates the inortality at Glasgow between the years 1821 and 1835 at 2.83 per cent., whilst he gives a detail of Wales and forty counties, siewing in every instance a considerable decrease of mortality as compared with London, Glasgow, and the six towns abore cited. The above mentioned book las nunierous tales upon points of mortality, and contains other information upon the same subject of great interest. With regard to this part of Indir, I mean to confine myself to Bengal, I think the reverse of what occurs in Europe as to mortality will be shewn, when we obtain statistical reports that can be relied upon, and whatever may be the healthiness or otherwise, of the other Bengal cities, I expect such will be found in Calintia, though it cannot be expected that we should shew Bu emalla muustality as exists in the city of London or the other European cilitics. In England and Wales the poor are taken care of in workhouses, and the sick poor receive good medical and surgical advice and attendance in hospitals, but in Jodia where the knowledge of medicine and the healing all is the same as it was many centuries asn; where in place of X Fyn pathetic freliog for his trllow.dunt there not only prevails an npathy in the ludian character, but oliere a division of caste preven!s the agency of good will and assistance oi' uue !wards another; where insuficient clothing, lind ford bathing at improper times, and the practice of Insting for long periods, adopted both by Musalınáds and lind.., ) and where the Ilidu cereniony of Antarjali, which is su generaltaking the sck to caprolite their death upon the muddy bank of the Ganges-presls; nuoruto il this, the want of advance in civilization and knowledge, and taking in to view the estrosire sources of malaria so much dwelt upon, the cits.ce of which I conceive 11:ust in a great 11.Pasite proceed from the fant of kuowledge and advancenient in intellience above allured ti', we must osturally expect to find a greater mortality lieve than in Bape. The housing and buldis of the Biengilis which I have attempted to describe in the oth paragrape of my litter to the Medical Board, dated March ::st, 1933, all stem to have a tendency to deteriorate and shorten lite. 'I bie diseases of Bengal are learly all produced by malaria, and bear a rery strong analo:y in character to the diseases formerly prevailing in European cities and countries, in times more uncivilized than the present. Sydenham Speaking of those times, SASE,"Cholera comes almost as constaut x the close of summer, and towards the be. ginning of spring, as cucko's towards niidsummer." He close's an accurate description by nemarking, that it " often destroyed the patient in 24 hours." Dr. Craigie has demonstrated the antiquity and identity of choler, all over the world. The descripciou and remedy for cholera taken from the work of llermannus Vander llesden, a physician of Ghent, dated 1933, puhlished in the 1st vol. of the Gleanings of Science, I myself sapt to the author in 1x29. The remedy as far as the opium and her Wiyoscyamus or the Khorásání ajwáyan is concerped ·TOPOGRAPLY OF CALCUTTA, 11 I can speak of myself most favorably from extensive experience. The author remarks that the taking of it (the remedy) is not to be deferred 80 long, as that the patient shall have fallen into convulsive fits, and his escrements become of the color of whey, which are evident signs that nature is spent in him, for then it must be takeu with all speed, &c. Fevers reinitrent, iatermittent and anomalous, with cholera, diarabie and dysentery, spleen, and all the nervous disorders uoder the head of neuralgia, are the prevailing diseases both arnong the rich as 'well as the poor natives of this country. We find the Babus of both Calcutta and ihe Mufassal passing through a life of disease and misers, and dying early in life, somewhat similar to cur Europesu barons of old, who nie said sellom to have attained to an advanced age, the filthy mouts surrounding their casties being supposed tu have been the main cause ; so here as I have often had occasion to remark in and about houses of opulent natives, there are cau: es gutt.cicut fur all the mischiet allud. ed to. In conclusion, I will add some tables of the census of Calcutta late!y talen, with the mortality of the natives for the last fire Frars takeit from the Pulice books. Captain Birch began this year to procure the births, so that in future a m 're correct estimate may be formed. The great difference il mortal:ry between the Hindus and Musal. mns is striking, while the difference to be observed between the Portuguese as compared with the Euclish and the Burasians is equally so. llore is much toorn for sporcularion, and it cannot be said that as yet we have a good means of getting correct information upon this buloject as they possess in Curope ; nevertheless, we may approach as near as ice can to thin point we vista to ascertain, and we may hope to improve in such statistical records. If we are at all near the truth the result seems to agree wich the opinions formed by Dr. Hawkins in his conclusions and summing up upon the subject, just abure referred to, and quated. The Portuguese, among whom so great & mortality is sheria, & LH suffering race, greatly subject to the catalogue of cumplaints enumerated in these papers, while the English and Eurasians Ele fur inore prosperous in life, and enjoy comforts and bapopivess in a Vrsy 1: yh degret', as compared with the former section of society. The mortality of the former 3., per cent. per annum, while that of the latter being 12' per cent. is rery great. In 15:30 I ascertained, and publish. pl in the Cleanings of Science, the burials in Calcutta of Protestant Christians from the year 18:20, to shew at that time that although the European population must have greatly increased yet that the deaths and burials had not increased ; and now, that the same population is achuowledged to have increased rery materially indeed, yet we sie upon reterring to the first column of one of the tables, giving the Protestant burials for the last 20 years, no incrense of deaths. The years 1823-1, the two years following the sea inundations slew the greatest mortality of late gears ; while among the native population those two years shew an estraordinary mortality. The two last years shew that in both Eurd. pean and Native population healthiuess is restored. The mortality among the other columns of society, the Catholic, Greek, Armenians, Indo-Armenians, and Natire Christians, are for the last 2 years, and .. 3 ·12 TOTOGRAPBY OE CALCUTTA. I beliere them to be nearly correct. As the Chinese and the Jews keep no account of their burials, l of course could not include them, and they form a small portion of society in this city. The census is the one last taken by Captain Birch, and he took great pains to make it as correot as possible. You will observe by one of the letters annexed that upon the receipt of rour circular I addressed the magistrate of the 24.Pergunnalis requesting a census of the zillah, together with the mor. tality, and you will see his obliging answer to the same : the census I send is only of the suburbs division, which forms only a part of the district. I have, &c. (Signed) F. P. STRONG, August 29, 1837. Surgeon to 24- Pergunnals. "I find that my letter is defective inasmuch as I loure not notice: wbat lias been done at different times in the envurbs of Calcutta when cholera has been scourging these parts and carrying off all its victims who could not obtain, or wlan declined nedical ad." It is but justice to the native Jortors who are permanently appointed to the different gangs of prisonere on the suburban roails, as well as tlin native lnctors attached to the Wrsrre princes, thout I should state how eminently successful they have been in having life under these dreadful circumstances, and this has been a work they bave at such times performed, independent of their actual duties. I think I may say that taking the average of several years, llie mortality among vile lagers has not been more than 6 per cent. of those attacked with cholera, where the above mentionel doctors, and others appointed ten. porarily to assist on urgent occasious, were rallel tu the patient in the early stage of the disease, and the arerage of the last sixteen years gives a proportion of " per cent. nmong the prisoners attacked with cholera at this sudder station." Alike favorable result attended the native doctors appointed a: Bombay, when the coolera berame epidenna in that place, and Dr. Ogiley, the then Secretary in the Medical Board of that presidency, remarks that it was not ascertained that any case of cholera bad recovered in which medicine has not been administered. 1204 fatal cases of cholera were reported by the Bombay l'olicr, in none of which cases had medicine been given. Should this be the case in all situations among the poorer vatives of India when cholera prevails, m.ght it not be considered as a highly to be desired act of bene. volence on ihe part of Government, that native doctors, should be per manently tired at different points ? Say one, or two, with a supply of medicinc at tach thannah, immediately to render assistance in case of any illness, whether fever or otherwise, for although it is possible that every case of cholera reported as such, may possibly not be actual cholern, yet it probably may be a forniidable disease and would be immediately relieved ; while fever, dysentery, &c. would receive a check, And most cases of cholera would be cured at once. The subject is an important one aud probably much better plans than those I have suggested may be put forward by others and adopted by the Government .

·TOPOGRAPHY OF CALCUTTA. 13 I would only here remark, that such remedial measures may be the means of preventing much serious disease, and to a certain extent, preclude the necessity of native hospitala. The natives themselves seem to hare a great objection to quitting their homes, and mixing with different classes of their fellow-meu. It appears to me that as a means of checking the progress of disease among the natives of this country, snie such plan would be found greatly to assist the grand preventive meaus, the subject of my theme, the Terroval of malaria. In the map of the 24.Pergunpalis which I copied from the map which Ir John Masters leut me sereral years ago, will be seen the roads and tanks.proposed by that yentleman to be mad: in the eastern suburbs inorked in red ink, and it will be observed that this projec:ed improveinent occupies at least balf the ground between the Salt-water Lake and the linhrattn Ditch. The inprorements recommended by the E.itally coinmittee were more extensire.

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·EXTRACTS FROM THE TOPOGRAPHY AND VITAL SATISTICS OF of CALCUTTA, EMBRACING OBSERVATIONS ON THESE SUBJECTS FORMED AT DIFFERENT PERIODS, AND OFFICIALLY SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR GENERAL LORD WILLIAM BENTINCK AND THE LOCAL AL'THORITIES, BY F. P. STRONG 8 URGEON, 24-P ER GUNNARS, Much of the matter herein condensed will be found as it occured, to be urtually in anticipation of orders subsequently received by the local authorities from the Hon'ble the Court of Directors of the Eust India Company TO THOS. SMITII, Esq. Third Member of the Medical Bourd und Superintending Surgeon. -00- No. 1, 1828.-On the Topography of Culcutta, the Suburbs and the Lake and Sundarbans beyond. In and about Calcutta among the causes of unhealthiness are the number of small dirty tanks, and the lovely drains from which the water does not run off'; examples of these inay be seen in every direction, but particularly along the Circular Road, the Baitak hanah Roail, and the roads in and about Entally and Sàildah. To these may be added the numerous holes or tanks of shallow water which till in the raus, and stagnate in the dry weather. To remove these ca uses of malaria, it would appear necessary that the drains should be kept in a clear state, so that the water should run off at once :- and as to the holes or small tanks they should be filled up.

·2 Topograpky on Calcutta. On looking at the map it will be seen that there is a great deficiency of public large tanks* all along the Circular Road, and if tanks of a considerable size were dug there, the soil from them might be used in filling up innumerable holes and tanks, and also many ditches which are perhaps of an unnecessary depth and width. A plan something like this, Dr. Martin tells me, was adopted near the Body Guard Lines and his hospitalt, with great good effect in lessening the number of sick sipàhis in hospital. To these causes may be added the As regerile the defiijency of public tanks, I am glad to be able to add tbe following us a preseniment of the grand jury to tbe judge, vigned by the furemen on behalf of bimself and the oiber jurore only ibe other day. That the native inhabitants of Calcutta are, during ibe hot seaann, most distressed for want of a proper supply of waler for domestic pur. pones, aod for the priinclion of fires ; and haltbere ought to be at Jeant 813 new tanks of water dug on ihe Calcutta side of ibe Circolar Road, aud the Aqueduce from the engine at the Chandpaul Ghaut ought to be carried to each of the sus proposeil tanks, and also to the Brven public tanke now bring on the line ol road from Sàm Bazár to Park Surort, in order that the said Nereral teoks may be supplied with water from the river &c, August 2014 1837 + Mr. Martin in a printed paper on the medical topograpbg of Calrutia and I'm suburbs in 1834. giveau furiher account of the body-guard boa, ital, and jipprovemence the Gorej dipept adopted at bis suggestino. lle mayaibe result during the three following years, was a reduction in the frequency and intensity of fever, as remarkable on it was gatis. jartury. In speaking of the different villages he sayo, that one des. cripting will serve for all, viz. general irregularity of ground, affording longwenig of various extent for slagnant waters, now very off nsire ; dra nace every where delective, and good apk water prarce. There ale aloo bella of jangal trees and underwood, obstructing vedillation. In all these villages the replies of the dativer confirmed, what indeed Hnly one could have predicted, as to the general prevalenre of repitlent HET Nullent levels; he addsmit may be said with trulli, that of all tie places noticed, ibere are not six aquare acres of soil oocopted by Dalves which do not contain marsh, and other coprepirated sources of periodic fevers which in the courche of time establieb beir inevitable saquela of spleen, and tatal diarrbæı-ibe brief biotory of the life and death of two-thirds of all the poor inhabitants around us. I do most cordially agree in sentiment with Mr. Martin, Ibat with- Out Minention to the state or the suburbe in the first instance, it is userem in attempt any great improvement within tbe city, and he considers that for one case of lever wilbin the city, there are two beyond the Mah. relta Ditch. I allude to Mr. Martin', observation, aud Bentiments on These subjects, as confirming those wbich I had previously exprorked in my own papers on tbe some subjecto; aod I muy add, that the lota D ctor Vos in bis let'er to Mr. Martin's addren, vagi-" The outurna require much improrement, and as long as this objects is poac. completed, Calcuita cannot be boaltby, it being surrounded with jangal on all sidos except the river ; the suburbo of Calcutia are foll of diriy pools, and no sufficiently large lauks." Aod bo allude, to the continual nickneo in mest families excel't those who live in apporroomed house.

·Topography of Calcutta. 3 gruat quantity of trees and jangal to the eastward of Calcutta, and indeed throughout the suburbs, and even in many parts of Calcutta itself; much of this exists in the private gardens and compounds of individuals, and it is, I imagine, as great a nuisance as it is in towns in England to exercise any anwholes, me trade to the detriment of the health of the inhabitants; and as such nuisances can there be put down, so ought the nuisance of overgrown jangal here to be capable of being removed. Much probably arises from neglect, and would be removed without any coercion; example might induce some to remove the nuisance, but there might be others who might require a strouger stimulus than either example or their own benefit. To meet this perhaps a regulation, if nccessary, miglit be framed by Governinaent, which I should think would not be it matter of much difficulty as far as recarols the town, and fur the subuils I should hope there would be no difficulty. In the native part of the town the stench of the drains and stay nation of the tanks is a grievance. In these tilthy stagnant boil tanks or puddles, numerous natives bathe, and in these yon may spa filth of every kind, and I can point to such which produce ckness and death to those who lire close to them; the filling up of those holes and making large public tanks would be of essential benefit as regards cleanliness and health*. Almost throughwut the native tow the ruins are generally of a bad hind, and as regards drins, the steam-enginct now about to be crected at tic Bauh-bazar, to water the central Chitpoie With the same vieir, I also refer t. the observations inade by Babu Rumromul Sen and Dr. Jachoon to Mr. Martin's address, who remark tint the particular reuses of It'virare :- 19t. Waot of tanko in different parts of the Da'ive town to supply wholesome water for drinking 200. Accumulation of filth unilatagonut water. 3rel. Shallow tanks, with unwliviesome water. 411. !) giug pris and boles, and leaving thein uneo. 5'h. liruias. And it is further remarked in the suburbs of Calcutta, the draing ere badiy kupt, water does not fiud its free passago in them, and amorikat crowded gardens, full of marshy places surrounded by june ghal, itoe 'ree circularen of air in prevented, while the decayed leaves and vegetablu subotaders thrown into the stagnant water create tale. ria, and produce fever, and it is added, that few of the laborers, pea. Bonte, and poorer class of people living in the suburbe, escape its effecie. and even the higher cl#88 of people aru attacked with it, and a large, portion of the full victims to it. One good-sized tank has since been made in the native town. + A considerable Auni was subscribed for this purpose, but the plan was not adopted, the interest of the money being expended in watering the Chitpore roail. The money was made over to assiat ia tbe erection of the College Hospital auw building. F. P.S. Oct, 1819.

·Typripelny of Culcuttu. Joud, igie la maile available to fill rescrvojis that might once a vlav, os probably tuice, clems the drains ; or it might bir desirable to itert mon powerful stean-engines for such purpose generaily throughout the presidency. The filth of every hund found in resinif the cross and small roads in the nalive town is a great wildkled to the rest, and if the chowkidars or those perd would obliye the babus, and those on lar e bringing in remota ilway their busine, it would be desirable. Regulat --- of 1814, euforces This. The tuitionerally throughout the native town of Calcutta, noe suerringbr, we much complained of in all directions, und.1011001, no! rostlille Ilusance on this account are frequently minted out tine. Iluvefuriind in the insane how puitalia inter vif sinkin, this diuisance into deep wellst, but isn't al. Cot of this sort. and of 2) extensive a nature: woulinties vientos a souwilio' -urveyor than to a medical man wingers ICO it may be insediately be tu point out thesrovirutubim serces of primar os atmosphere, and the sai. 2018 Haily application the dual raiuiny of Calcutta. His tawy los pront und what this miasma ur malaria is, build tale of the soul fris much to do witli it; it is known 1., 1. i medin marshus * indinol spots, in wet woods, and ite 1! wint mcaclous; and the loss and dense brusl.wond jangal, Oil" plucket viserdogass. !0 Connon in India, being the resichemin, predaying vegetation is analogous to land, and must produce nuuch; but it is well known that fittis ulleran. Imo in forests, such as the T'urrajes forests, 2:! others, liut particularly in a most dangerous ori" bicar llawngrabad and one above Bareilly. lores ya then, that putting out of question the Sundarins, Miliall!! Listin, that the thickets of trees and 1.9l, wervis, jossa mall stagnant. tanks, and jheels, which Flelt wie alomon on each side of the road, down from 1:49. Bregovallal, to the end of Russapaglah, on cach ... the lighat ruk!, 1, Tolly's Bridge, on cach side of D'lib, ise the mail on the right of this nullab as far in olie bone Hospital, where the eye can hardly find any quality ! -nce xcept on the jhects and tanks, and where ile "Hindi.so and pisicus necds are growing in all direc- 1100s wil this being simulated south of the presidency, must be mure uf disc is sit and disorderf; many of which wille • Dish, if thvet silence could be removed. And if I u. i. !nistaken, I cant truce illuc:s from this very source ☆ The 1201 rilmesi has risico borotripted in thc jest bokpital at Alli. fiore inimesed pled in very slidi tur newly crocted Iosauc Ass.

·Topography of Calcutta. 10 5 (these weeds) to certain houses in Chowringee where in occa. sionally uninhabited houses, in the compound, and round the tanks is to be found, jangal indecd, which must add greatly to the malaria which is blown from the Russapaglah jangals over the Clowringhee part of the presidency. I have as yet excepted the Salt-water Lake and Sundarbans, to confine myself to Calcutta and its suburbs; but considering the general healthiness of this presidency, they cannot be well excluded, and they have been always considered as conducing to the general unhealthiness of the place, the wind coming over such an expanse of janghal and marsh The experience of medical practitioners here confirms this opinion, for it will be generally found, that where casterly winds prevail for some days together a greater degree of sickness is common. To inform inyself as well as I can regarding the lake, I have been through it as far as Tarda, and frequently visited its borders by the scveral road-leading up to it from the Circular Road; the further half of what appears in the map as lake, is now a continued low Sundarban jangal fiom Bamanghatta to Tarda, intersected by channels ; and the same kind of thick low jangal is continued round from Tarda to near the lands adjoined Gurria-laut on Tolly's nullal. From inquiries I have made I understand that the water in what is called the lake, but which may more proprrly be considered as a mere shallow marsh, is generally not much more than knee deep, and it is in many places of even less than that depth. The appearance of grass and bushes growing in the water shows that it cannot be of any considerable depth, and I am inclined to believe, that the depth of the water generally throughout the lake, is, with the crception of the navigable channel through it, not of greater slepth than what I have just mentioned. The water is brackish, but becomes more salt as you proceed from Ballıghal towards Bamanghatta along the navigable channel which runs through the lake to that place. No one can doubt that a shallow* brackish or salt marsh, extending as the one in question does, over a surface of many milest, must be a sourcs of much unhcalthiness, particularly in a tropical climate and that it must produce a contaminated atmosphere, the bad qualities of which must affect the health, not only of those inhabiting its immediate borders, but also thusc residing in the neighbourhood for miles arround it. * Marshes into wbich sea-water occasionally eblers, are observed to be more pestilential tben mere fresh-water swampe. Vide Dr. Traill's Medical 'urleprudence, page 88, kod other autborities. + Eighteen anl a half square miles, ·Topography of Calculta. that the neighbourhood of the lake, is really unlıcalthy*, I believe needs no proof, inquiry amongst the natives of Balighat and other places similarly situated, would satisfy any person in this respect. He would be told "the air was very bad," that the "halt air was very bad," and would find, that bickness in those plaire', more than commonly prevails. I have hard it said, that this lake or marshi was capable of being drailca, and the lands redecnicd and brought into cultivatien; nordover that it would probably beconie valuable lant for the enlivation of indigo, rice, and other products. Thqon ton of draining however is one which belongs more to the province of a surveyor to decidr, and upon which / ain unik 1. form any correct opinion. The channel which runs !0X_! the lake fruin Balliglat t Bainanghatta, is baru so v ccl sue with grass and jungal, and is the only jur.! this locker which I mdustand is used for the purpose of nain: is.d), and this channel in obliged to be kept open liv realised videos lioillis; the borders of it, and indeed on totes les of the lake, fauts 1nccasionally to be seel), watnie tam in the jumalan grass in the water; here individutuled with lumps of eut, above the water, :in priedaris small rities in Sonde places along thon eilge of hirvimiyable chienl. Fiutilise circunstances, and from what I have land on the silicet of drainma the like, I am irilgono insboured 10 lun.is Hat sc.1324 dl.ing night lie prarticable :5*111114pyyd, and I believe tliere il to its yet 110 grounds for Filipusion is imposible to all of the water, aby cubank- Tinili, Wwwthiran, to reduce the land now waste : all, he is.vuren i dinas intu profitabil cultivation, ... all it lost it (pelatively healthy ace il clieved 1.211:land livlening 11;1on the lake on the Calcutta side, oli tos cepen. 111. extent, lias alieady by means of «rains Fredoubkuraitis : eined from its varsly stalc, aul thern will luntly li, in state of vultivation, which is il piano inat industry may overcome any seeming difficulties u Untit iarnie parts of this pestilential marslı may be Birinciliunto il valludin state ; and if the whole, or a considerobele pary was podiscred into cultivation, even into paddy or vice Tunis, o situacion rould become inuch inore healthy, * Some yrars ago 16 police u ons were gent mon e particular duty to the barriers of the Luke cvery our of the bcanie ill; HA wany NOTA meu present in their ro in, and bese were all attacked with diarane #cbriged to return. Mv 11.1.172t was Mr. Blacuuichinho saw these den. It bas been hand thutoritetit ke wis e averitdiuina slie cullivanlon, it would be #8 UL built 18 MUWINUURIC, Hond a doulle baich of meu scut to a riciclita'i '2 bulous discence ?

·Topography of Calcutta. 7 All the whole neighbourhood, including Calcutta, would be inuch benefitted by it. It is true, that as paddy or rice land it would still at certain seasons be partially under water, as lands of that description generally are; but I do not think that such lands produce the same unhealthy atmosphere as the present salt and jangal marsh now does, though they may do so in a comparatively small degrec; the crop is cut down and not allowed to rot on the ground, or in the water, as the jangal does, and the land is clean for many months in the vear. If by general draining, levelling, removing the neigh- Douring jangal, and producing as much as possible a free current of air, the atmosphero ne lireathe shall be rendered purer, many lives may be saved, and many who are now obliged to leave the place, may be able to semain and attend to their respective occupations. This paper was written and given to the Governor Geneml shortly after his Lordslip had sent for me on the 2nd September, 1898. NOTE.-Annesley on anils and situationa productive of miasinata, &c. Page 55.--The copious extrication of unwholesome effluive from salt marshes and partial ruuudation of the sea has been loog admitted and L48 orily been disputed by one writer of eminence, wbo instances in disa proof of the position, the sait marblies of one partirulur district in the western hemins here, but there it is probable that there was some peculiarity in the soul and its produc.ions wbich rendered ibe formation of malaria impossible. Page 50, - Experience till prorf, &c. &c. wbcn such soils bave been jmmodated ny obe sea, as irom the breaking down of erabankments, &'. the formation of deleterious fluvia hus become most abundant, and has been the source of a mont devaatating pestilence. lo proof of this we may dention the ouxlous biilations auj salt marsbes at the mouth of the Ganges, the Irrawaddy and the Indon, and numerous other places le east. In the north of Holland the fover whicb was so deetructive in 1826,-was a very sirong proof of the doleterious effict of salt water* # " 'The epidene which prevailed iu Holland, and partioularly in Ciruningan Hudit: vidinity during the summer and autum of 1820, seems 10 bus verece wy to che partial inundatinne of the country by the sea ning the preceding winter and spring. Through Priesland, and pare riculty in wie Torn of Sneck, observes Mr. Kershuff (Journal complewant ; Jury, 18.97) this cause appeaig to bave had a decided influcier. Sneiks is a handsome and well-built town, the streets are hroad, The population in 1825 W88 6373, and the deaths were from 10 to 12. monthly. In the autum of 1826 it became the centre of the epidemic which ravaged Friesland and in July the deaths were 23, io August 87, in September 80, in Ocaober 127, and from the 1st to the 2015 of November 62. The water in the forses of this town is generally limpid and ronning nod that wbich usually fills the adjoming ponds and Jakes is equally pure, and suited to domestic purposes. But after the breaking down of the dykes in 1825, and the coperquent inundations, the waicr bermme salt and brackish, and during the high and coatiouid heut of the tylowing spring and summer it became greenisb; and so ·Topography of Calcullu. offensive, that the workorn could not labor in the vicinity without being seized with intermittente and resnittents. As the summer and autoop advance the lever Hasumed a remittout and even contiuued forro, and the efflavia from the soil became more concentrated and pozioua, 18 tbc which were more completely. Drained off by the continumd warmth of tbe Aragon. At tbe wame time tbe bad wa. ter was oberl, without sufficient purification, for domestic puiprones. These causes although instanced here with respert to this particular place, were also present in equal force at Grouingen sad other places in Friesland ; tbe lever which was at tiret intermite tent, dokumed A continued type. and during the exacerbation, the pains of the back and bead were increased. In the majority of cases the liver nun nuen effected. In the montbs of August and September the fever arfumed the character usually presented by levers in low and moist cituutious within the iropics, the circumstances occasioning them being in varg respect similar." Page 5. --Thr offerts resulting froin the inundation of the ocean are not perlape referrible so mnch to the circumstatice of a small quantity of mult proping A septic, ag is supposed by many : for it berri evident the uptineptic propertice of saltare in proportion to its quantity, and that a small portiou will not have a septic tendency, hecause a large and has an opposite effect. The subject has not received its deorras fictit in: and author: have, in respect to it bren more prone w co Y me suprorition and adroinsions of their predicegaurs than t examine into the grounds opon which the opinion is founded. That S--patet muncil with fresh-uilder und regelmble matter in a state: trany, ni! 16.4pass the generacion of affluvur under the influence of a poweriui $12, and reudur vien more concentrated, BEEMN TO NE. THE It has been repeainully presented to our notice, and is supported Iy the testimony of the inujurity of oliserors. But this result seems to be wibg in the yount ty of uninnl matter sea-water cootains, which occasione it to ruu fuster into putrefaction than fresh-water ahed subjected to a warm tenperature and kept at rest. Much is owing to the lowness of the situations where inundations take place, and the quaniitsist vegetable and animal matter in a state of decay ubicli eucla situations contain, The exhalations proceeding frodi there placer, whether withiu sbe tropics or in temperate regiour during warna PCARODR, are generally more porious doriog very moist states of the air, & condition alw4ye present in warm climates; and they are still mure particularly hurtful when tbey have been collecting for a considerable time owing to the continuation of calm wbetber, and the aliseoce of thunder stormr, or those more violeut atmospheric vicis. Bitider wbien are to beneficial in sweeping away the exbalation arcumulated in low narrow ravines and among the thick underwood of trupscal regions. No. 2, 1820.-- Continuation of the same subject--Allusion to the soil around ruleutla - Sir II. Erst's opinion of the same after one expeyamentelbuiny - Hirmarle on the ball effects of marsh and junyai air allusione di cuer's and localities - Remarks on cultivating the Sundar. kuns, 8. T, MA:OR BENSON, &c. &c. SIR, In culitinusion of some papers which I had the honor to give some time since lur die information of the Right Honor- ACT.

·Topography of Calcutta. 9 able the Governor General regarding the healthiness of this Presidency and its suburbs, 1 have the honor now to submit some further remarks on the same subject. In my former statement I alluded generally to the various causes to which I was lcd to attribute much of the unhealthiness of this place, and amongst these were various nuisances, which 1 took the liberty of pointing out; such as the great quantity of surrounding jangal, the numerous small dirty tariks, cavities, &c. and the general state of the drainage. I have since gone further in any investigation. This and practical observation have more iind more confirmed me in the opinion that I have always entertained relative to these several causes being productive of unhealthiness by contaminating the atmosphere, and generating what is termed malaria. That I am not singular in my opinion of the bad effect of stagnant drains is evident (in addition to other authorities which could be produced), from a circumstance of late practical occurrence, which I beg leave to quote. It is what lately took place at Gibraltar where extensive sickness had prevailed ; a' Dr. Wilson who was there speaks of the Augean drains, and attribuire the illness to malaria. I have appended the short-account be gives of it. If difficulties have existed in respect to draining in Calcutta and its vicinity, I am inclined to suppose that they' do not arise from the vature of the soil, and without feeling competent to give any opinion on the practicable part of improving the drainage, I am not I think going too far in supposing that the new canal now being cut would afford a great means for the drainage of all that part of the Town to which it runs parallel. This great Improvement is now rapidly going on, and viewing it merely in one point-that of the healthiness of the neighbourhood --we have only to look at the broad belt of jangal that has been cut down for it, and the numerous small tanks which hava either been cut throuylı or filled up, to be convinced of its great benefit. Besides commercial and other public advantages, this benrfit and improvement would indeed be greatly extended, if the canal was, instead of stopping at the present eartern canal, to be continued round the remaining part of Calcutta, and to join the Tolly's Nullah towards Bhawanypore or Allipore. Considering that the nature of the soil might have much to do with ihe dampness and unheathiness of this part of Bengal, and having for some time past taken opportunities of collecting various pcat earths that abound every where ·10 Topography of Calcutta. about their parta, I had examined the earth in several places, by boring with a machine to various depths, when my attention was called to the circumstance of Sir Edward Hyde East. having in 1811 made a boring 140 feet deep near the river, in spurch of a spring of pure water ; be in a paper which he communicated to the Asiatic Society remarks, that the different stratil through wuich the borer penetrated have furnished the following observations. Ist. “I'lır primary object of getting a spring of fresh water entirely tiled, of which sanguine expectations had been fornmeal lly the projector of the experiment, grounded as it should seem upon the common opinion that the soil of all the louer part ont Bengal was particularly innist and full of springs; an opinion, which this experiment, if it can be taken as affording any criterion of the soil throughout the vicinity of Calcutta, has so far happily discountenanced. The first apprarance of any damp was at the depth of 71 feet in a reddislı clay with a quarter of sand, and below 76 feet the earth was a dry before, though the borer must have descended nearly to the level of the sea, which as the crow flies, cannot Psrceel ) milis in distance which the fall of the river commonly empted at 1 inch a mile is supposed to be acording to its windings 11. “Ther' danıp of the climate not being attributable to stor meint nature of the soil, nor affected by it, otherwise than olan admisture of salt petere in the soil may be supposed to bura sume muluence on the exhalations from the surface, 140-1 tu looked for, principally at least, from causes upon, or abonelines sufars, to the want of a general system of drainage mi a led country, and the luxuriant vegetation, with inarie quale oping through the woods for ventilation, which prevent ou impede the copious falls of rains at the periodical sea- Son, and 101 anfraquently at other times from running oft properly. Tie leury dews at other seasons are not probably not than sutficient to supply the daily exhaustion of the sill, and would rather contribute to the healthiness of the climate. All that seenis ranting, therefore, is surface drilling upon a general plan, and the cutting of broad strait pvad through the woods, as much 2.8 possible in the direction of the prevailing winds. The acknowledged improvement of 11:( climate in all about Calcutta of late years, appears to be the natural result of the superior attention which has bere paid by the Local Police to these two objects, the benefits of which will be extended with the extended application of the same means."

·Topography of Calcutta. 11 Years before this Rennel had made similar observations, and since the period of Sir Edward East's remarks considerable improveinents have taken place, though it is obvious that much yet remains to be done. I concur particularly in his observations about the surface draining and the cutting of the roads in the direction of the prevailing winds, and I may add, that in two of the borings which I have made at a considerable distance from each other, and one which was in the new canal, I have found that at about 70 feet from the upper surface, the yellow clay that was brought up was extremely tenacious and hard after which water came up to the surface of the bottom of the canal, but it was of a brackish nature. This circumstance tends further to prove the correctness of Sir Edward East's opinion as to the difficulty of meeting with a spring of pure water, and argues, that if such is the general nature of the soil, in digging tanks, 110 object is to be gained by making them of extraordinary depth, under the expectation of meeting with springs of fresh water, but that they must be considered rather as reservoirs for rain water; and for that purpose a considerable depth inay be proper. But if at a certain depth, say at 60 or 70 feet, brackish water is generally found to exude from the earth, it might not be well to dig through the hard clay which is found to layia considerable thickness above such brackish water. These investigations seem to prove that the soil hercabouts, which is unquestionably alluvial, does not contain 80 nich moisture below the immediate surface as is generally supposed, and the production of impure air is most probably from the surface, ratlıcr than from below the surface, though possibly in other soils and climates it may be otherwise ; therefore if a system of surface draining by open shallow drains were adopted the advantages contemplated by Sir Edward Lust might be obtained. I take the liberty of alluding to considerable advantages obtained at Madras by the establishment of a Board of Health, and referring to the recorded opinion of the Justices of that Presidency, in their report at the last Quarter Sessions, of the utility of this board, and of the improvements that had arisen froni the attention of that Government to general points of clearance and cleanliness. If in that place where they have the advantage of a sea wind, such nuisances as these alluded to are felt, it is fair to consider that they will be more felt here, where the vegetation is much more exuberant and the population greater. I would here respectfully submit, that it is worthy of consideration whether ·12 Topography of Calcutta. similar proceedings to these of Justices in Quarter Sessions at Madras, might not here be attended with beneficial re sults, and also, whether a Board of Health at each of the large districts or divisions under the Bengal Presidency might not be beneficial. It might be composed ofthe Senior Military, Civil and Medical Officers; but ehould this not be deemed expedient, a Board or Committee of Health in the presidency itself might be attended with incalculable advantages. When I first arrived in 1816 the south-east part of Chowringhee was covered with similar huts and compounds to those alluded to at Madras ; at that time I remarked certuin well built houses near those parts were uninhabitable, and the damp and evening mists about them were proverbial. Some time afterwards those huts were all destroyed, several large tanks were made, and the land generally levelled for the purpose of building good houses. Rawdon street, Loudon street, Moir: and Hungerfurd streets, were finished, and I now observe the formerly unhealthy houses I have alluded to occupied, and no longer considered dangerous to Jeside in I : Jluded in my former paper to the very jangly, neglected, and irregular state of the lands on each side of the Russapuglah road leading from Birgetallah, Chowringhee, down to the place where the families of the Mysore princes reside : I am kery year borne out in forming the same opinion, and conuing to the same conclusions 1 hare there expressed, by my observation and attendance upon the princes. J invariably find that w ben the wind blows over these jangly and swampy parts towards their inhabitants, fever and that often of the niost virulent hind I have ever met with, prevails, and this more especially where the houses are low, or surrounded with marshy man.p> or jungals, which is the case with several of Hell. There are some others where the heads of the family Jane built their houses, three and four stories high, in the highest aparinents of which they have their zanána, and bere they rarely suffer; but I know some lower-roomed houses where the grounds are kept clean and airy, where they are also healthy, although perhaps not quite so inuch so as in the higher houses With the exception of accidents which occur now and tacos, and hydrocele to which this family seem peculiarly Brable, and which often requires operation and attention, I should consider the princes generally healthy, their usual complaints being remittent and intermittent fever and its conse- • Hote are now rebuilding and the pluce gettirg filtby. August 8, 1837. F. P.S. Ron much worte 1849. P.P.S. i ·Topography of Calcutta. 13 quences, such as spleen diseases, affections of the liver, and other visceral obstructions, and although I think I am correct when I state, that since I have had medical charge of these numerous families, now nearly nine years, I do not know of any one fatal case of cholera morbus, or one fatal case of small-pox having happened, (though these disorders have yearly carried off many in the adjoining villages ;) but after the last rains I had a considerable number of spleen cases , among them. I expect these families will now be tolerably healthy till the rains set in, when those in jangly and damp situations must be expected to suffer. I have mentioned this regarding the princes, because the facts I think go far in confirination of my main arguments, the unhealthiness of jangal and swamp*. It would be useless to enter into a detail of the particulars, which I could easily do, to prove the unhealthiness of numerous localities in and around Calcutta ; one however I may allude to,-- it is the case of the late Rev. Mr. Mosquito, a roman catholic clergyman who lately went into a lower-roomed House at Sialduh in the suburbs, which had a small conipound covered ancle deep with dead leaves of trees, and close to his compound was a large tank then filling up wiih stable straw and other filth. His fever was of the inost virulent kind, ind ended fatally last Friday the 17th instant. This particular cause of illuess I believe, to be very conmon, wrInch makes me thus anxious to bring it to the notice of the Hisht Honorable the Governor General, and I may be allowed brictly to mention, that I have visited many of the villages bordering upon the Lake, and that I find the inhabitans in point of appara'ice and health, to correspond very nucli with the state of those people who inhabit malarial and marshy lands in various parts of Europe and America, as pointed out by well known authors. Since my remarks about what I had seen of the lake I have been occasionally there, and I found that much of the land which during the rains was covered with water has since been dry with jangal growing upou parts of it; the tides have now risen higher than they were two months ago, and have covered at high water part of * Since writiug ibis, Prince Sooroorooden has been carried off by disease, I believe entirely produced by the Allty stata at bis habitatron-he sllowed the must noxious jangal to grow all round bis Louret up to the very doors and windows. I chuld not prevail upon biinio remove this, and I have taken Beveral gentlemen to the spot them what & mugazine of malaria existed, and how wonderful it was that life could be preserved within it. His nis unges were fever, geu. ralgia, latterly partial susanity, aod he died in an epileptic fit. H 2 to ghew ·14 Topography of Calcutta. the land which had been left dry; these lands, veing daily alternately wet and dry, must be a constant and plentiful source of malaria, and fortunate indeed is it for the inhabitants of Calcutta that these marshes are not situated south of it instead of where they are. From the borings I have made in many parts of them, I should say that it would prove a most productive soil, fully equal to any about here. A moderate portion only of sand is met with until you go to quite the other end of the marshes near Bamangotta, where more sand begins to appear. In parts where I bored deep, I found in my course the same charred, or peaty earth, to be found every where about Calcutta, and again below this a very tenacious yellow and slate-colored clay. Of the existence of an ancient forest, all, now covered by carth, there is no doubt whatever, as almost every where about 20 feet deep, large timbrr trees are found in a state more or less of decomposition, but the superfices of the salt marshes, and down to 12 feet, is ceilainly composed of an earth well calculated for embankment. Thest remarks bring me to the jangal and waste lands beyond the lake, and to the foregoing observations I hope I may be allowed to add a few remarks on the subject of cultivation. From all the inforniation I have obtained, I am led to believe that these waste lands in the Sundurbans are capable of being male to produce a vuriety of crypst Some coffec plants which I gave to a cultivator of Sundarban lands last year and the year before, and which were planted out by him on the cleared lands are, 1 au informed, in a thriving, state; it may therefore be worthy of consideration whether if this plant is found to flourish, it does not hold out an additional encouragesment to the clearing of these janyal lands, I am aware that Various opinions have existed respecting the cultivation of coffee in this country, and that its success has been thought doubtful; several experiments have however succeeded and the cuffice is considured of a fair quality. I have myself made the experiment to a small extent, and judging from the appearance of the plants in a piece of ground of about 10 acres, 1 have every reason to bclieve that the cultivation of coffee here will ultimately sticceed. I sent a thousand coffee plants as far up the country as Moradabad upwards of three years ago, and the last ac- Since writing this, an embankment has been made permanent on the westein side of the navigable chanoel, nearly balf across the lake as far as the Byamcarl; the lands, beyond are tolerably high, billed with jargal. + American cottuo grown in there lands and producel at the Agricul. Tural Society has been considered excellent.

·Topography of Calcutta. 15 counts 1 heard of them were very favorable. Cotton is perhaps another article that might be produced to a great extent in the Sundarbans lands. In an article in the Edinburgh Review, ( No. 91, June, 1827, page 25, ) on the rise, progress, present state and prospects of the British cotton manufactory, it is stated," that previously to 1790, the supply of raw cotton for the British manufacture was principally derived from the West Indies and the Levant. But after the termination of the American war cotton began to be cultivated in Carolina and Georgia, and has succeeded so well that it now forms one of the most valuable productions of the United States. American cotton is generally known by the name of seaisland, and upland; the former is the finest cotton imported into Britain. 'It grows on small sandy islands contiguous to the shore, or on the low grounds bordering on the sea. The upland grows at a distance from the coast.' This article was written before the late American tariff which has naturally led to discussion upon the cultivation of cotton, and it has been considered that it may be cultivated with great advantage in this country to alınost any extent, and of a quality not perhaps inferior to that produced in any other part of the world*. From the description given in the Edinburgh Re. view of the kind of land on which the finest cotton grows, it appears in some measure to assimilate to the Sundarbans lands. I am told that the Bourbon cotton grows well at Diamond llarbour, and previous to the last rains I had some rows of the Bourbon cotton trees, in a garden, raised from the seed and thriving abundantly, but during the rains they were so very exuberant that I cut them down; two or three only were left, and althongh entirely neglected and most of their branchrs cut, they soon cane into blossom and produced cotton, which I neglccted taking care off, but I got from them quantities of seed which I have given away. From this trifling experiment however it is evident that the plants vould ihrive here, and that cotton might perhaps be cultivated 10 a great extent in the low lands of the Sundarbans. Should these lands become cleared, the cultivation of sugarcane on then may become an object of importance. It was . On the 2016 of October, 1829, the Governor General expressed a desire 10 argist the Agricultural Society to promote the cultivation of superior cotton and tobooco, and the Court of Directors in 1831, sent out American collon seed, and Government suctioned an experiment at Akra ia tbe Agricultural Society'o ground, the particulars of wbich will be found in their report published in 1835. The Society also got American serd to various parts of India, and the samples of cotton sent by several of the experimentalists were excellent. The Government bar just offered a premiom of 5000 Rupees for the best invented Coiton Chirka, 1849. F. P. S.

·rum of 16 Topography of Calcutta. vbserved by a Mr William Fitzmorice, (who had been in the West Indies inany years) in a statement he made to the Honorable the Court of Directors, and which he printed in 1793 : “That the more he saw of this luxuriant soil the more he was convinced that thry might annually import from Bengal any quantity of wayar, and a proportionable quantity of a superior quality, without interfering in the smallest degree with the present cultivation and manufactories of Bengal. Indecu that the waste land occupied by the tigers, between this aud Injeila would produce nearly as much sugar as the Ysland of Jamaicil." Mr. Fitzmorice, fronı his printed work which I have, appears to have been practically acquainted with thu cultivation and inanufacture of sugar, as it was carried on in the West Indies, and was therefore probably capable of firming a correct opinion on the subject, as well as on that of the cultivation of coffee, of which he also wrote, but which coffee cultivation has only (so far as I can lerui) been attempted of late years, though the plant has long since been found to grow well in private gardens; much of the land to which Mr. Fitzmorice alludes bas since beru brougt, into cultivation. Rice is I believe tha principal crop, but of the vast tract which remain in a state of waste,jangal on the east of the river Hooglily, and towards the Sundarbans, much might no doubt be made productive, und if sugar should be found to thrive on those lands, it is cvidcut th:111 night be cultivated to a great extent. You will oblige me by laying this paper before the Right llonorable the Governor Gencral at his Lordship's leisure. (Signed) F. P. STRONG, 170! 23/11, 1829. Surgeon to Suburbs of Calcuttu. No.3, 18:19.-Contimuition of the same subject-Boring for Artesian sprinus advocated - Success in Europe of late yeurs, viving the authorities-Further remarks on the Sundarbans with quotations, from Baron Humboldt on the advantage of virilization, and the 1bbi Man on the healthiness produced 1 t). Vrtherlands by clevering, cultivation, and civilization. To MAJOR BENSON, &c. &c. Sm, In the papers which I had the honor to submit some time for the information of the Right Honorable the Governor General, I entered into an explanation of what I conceived 10 besume of the principal causes of un- ·Topography of Calcutta. 17 healthiness in Calcutta, its neighbourhood, and the lower part of Bengal. In doing this I was naturally led to make some remarks upon those great sources of malaria or impure and unwholesome air, the Salt-water Lake, and the jaugly Sundarban adjoining ; considering that the draining of the one and the clearing of the other would be a great public benefit, if even done only with a view of removing such causes of nalaria and consequent illness. lo carrying into effect such weasures, one most important necessary of life must be obtained, or else it is to be feared that any improvements which may be attempted will proceed very slowly and cannot ultimately be carried to a considerable extent. The article to which I allude is a good and sufficiently abundant supply of fresh water fit for drinking. This is an article even much wanted in Calcutta itself, particularly during the dry and hot months ; and much illness amongst the nativen bas, and 10 doubt correctly. been attributed to their drinking clirty, stagnant and putrid water. The supply of good water might, I am strongly inclined to hope, be much increased in and about Calcutta, and that by the simple, speedy, and comparatively trifling expensive plan of boring* ; should this plan be tried and found to succeed Tiere, it might probably meet with similar success if tried upon any of ihe cleared lands, or upon the Salt-water Lake, when drained. My hopes of success are in a great degree grounded upon the examples of boring wisich have taken place in England, where this mode of obtaining a good und constant supply of fiesh water has lately been much resorted to, and has met wiih the greatest success, not only in London and its neighbourhood but in the lower parts of Lincoln, Kent, and other fenny districtst. In some of these where the inhubitants and their cattle suffered niuch from the want of good water, the evil has lately * From M. Arago's work on Artesian springe, 1834.6. Issues from principal fountains St. André nearly two tons per minute, Bagee, 333 gallone per tuinute. Touro, 237 ditto ditin. Merton, 200 ditto dilio. Revesalter, 176 ditto ditto. Lillers, 155 ditto dilio. + Edinburgh new Pbilosophical Journal, December 1848. p. 170.

·18 Topography of Calcutta. been removed, and this essential necessary of life has been supplied by means of perforations made to a great depth in the soil, hy boring with an iron auger so as to reach and bring to the surface the deep seated springs*. To some of the instances I beg leave to refer. Borings which have been made from 200 to 400 feet deep, have been found to cast up from 15 to 20 gallops of soft and remarkably pure water per minute, which without the use of engine or pump will rise from 20 to 30 feet above the surface up a tube or guide-pipet. Wells haar been bored at Tooting, Mitcham, and Merton, in Surreyf; one al Merton is said to cast up 200 GALLONS of water a minutes, and one at Touting nearly 100 gallons. At Leeds 100 yards deep has been bored for water, and cast iron pipes used for conducting it. Some partially unsuccessful experiments have been made in chalk. But water jas been obtained at Sittingbourne in Kent (in which neighbourhood it may be reinarked, that the land is level and low) after boring 336 feet. In Bedfordshire 400 fins 1 and in Surrey near Dorking 440 feet in depth have bx bored and water obtained** At Hammersmith, Looring is suid to have been much practised lately. The water (lained there which it superior quality, and the supply regular, in some instances 200 or 300 gallone per hour, but in mo case is it said to be less than X) gallons per bour, and the depth bored has been from 300 to 30 feet before the water was found, after which it has run over uitferent heights above the surface according to the strength of the spring. In the Duke of Buccleugh's Depths bored SI, Nicolas d' Ailermont through 7 sheets of water 1,180 feet. GappA 682 ditto. sarannie, 663 dito, Chiswick. 582 vitro, Bethane', 461 ditin. 1834 M. Champrincan, 275 ditio. * Mechanic's Magazine, vol. i. p. 293. + Dillo, vol. ii.r. 31. Sirice my writing thia M. Arago bos particularly alluded to this boring Merlianic'e Mngezine, vol.ii. p. 60. Il Diun, f. 382. Since tbis several successful operations have been performed in chalk. • Mecbanic's Magazine, vol. y. pp. 230, 32, 258, 315, $o. was of ·Topography of Calcutta. 19 grounds at Richmond Hill*, (where an excellent apparatus for perforating the different strata of the earth is said to have been used, after boring 252 feet, a supply of most excellent water has been obtained, yielding 13 gallons a minute, and rising as in a fountain 24 feet abore the surface of the earth. These examples not only shew to what extent boring for fresh water has been practised in England, but it will also be seen from them, that this method has been successfully tried in both high and low situations and through various kinds of soil. I will also add a quotation from a work apparently of nuch practical utility. In Loudon's Encyclopædia of Agriculturet, p. 671, it is said there are “borings in Middlesex and Surrey which afford a continuous and abundant flew of water, equal to 8 gallons per minute. 'A very copious fountain which rises twenty feet above the surface, has lately heen obtained by the same means in the grourids of Ravenscroft Park, the seat of G. Scott, Esq. near Hammersmith.” Indeed there can be little doubt that in the majority of situations not only in Britain, but throughout the world, water night be found by boring or digging down a few scores of feet. The expense in England, as mentioned in the same work, (p. 671) is stated to be equal only to one-cighth that of well digging, and it is remarked that “the advantages of flowing springs of good water, which by these means inay always be obtained on the sides of roads, and in it variety of other places where water is not at present found, are incalculable, the Cust very small, and the operation easy and “ expeditious. If the advantages are su incalculable and so easily obtained in Eugland, it must be obvious that they would not be less so in a climate like India, and particularly in this part of the country where they are so inuch needed, and where although the water of the Flooghly, as far down as Calcutta may be tolerably good during most seasons of the year, * Mechanic's Magazine, vol. vi. p. 167, + In this work will also be found an interesting arcount of the mode of raining 140111 oeur the river Humber by warping, or letting in the river water aod allowing the warp or mad to belile. By this method lands have been fertilized, and raised from 6 10 16 iochre in the carne An articla misu) in the Mechanic's Magazine, vol. p. 99, give an acronnt of this method of warping lande by the water or the river use, and aprake of rising landa near 3 feet in the course of a year The water of the Ilonghly containing a much larger portion of mud, might perhaps be applied to the same useful purpose of raising the soil of the Sall-water Like or er big bbwuring low land. il. 1. of a year, ·20 Topography of Calcutta. and tolerably gond water may be preserved in tanks, yet the supply often becomes scanty, and when the tanks are low, brackish and bad, buring, if successful, as I think It would be, is therefore a matter of more importance than it nay at the first mention of it appear to be. In the fort in particular it might be found to afford that supply of water which all attempts to obtain have (I am told) hitherto proved unsuccessful and expensive, the wells being all brackish, and the puckah built reservoir made for the purprose of retaining a supply of rain water having after repeatext'expensive repairs been found incapable of holding water, and its use for that purpore being therefore discontinued. Several borings for fresh water have also been made here, said inongst them some in the fort, and the only reason why they have not been successful is, I believe, on account of the inefficiency of the boring apparatus, and its not enabling those who have made the attempts to go sufficirptiy deep. In two borings made in the fort in 1820, they were not able to penetrate deeper than 122 and 128 feet: in both these atteinpts there was no indication of fresli water, but the earth brought up was occasionally damp and nivistened with water of a saltish taste, a great deal oof stiff clay was met with, and in both cases the rods broke and remained iu the ground. The deepest boring I can fined an account of is that given by Sir H. East to the Asiatic Society in 1814, and that was 140 feet; no fresh waler was found. and here the rods broke and were left in the ground : the only other accounts of any boring I can lind was in 1804, wells from 20 to 40 feet deep having all proved so brackish as to be unfit for drinking. The burings were undertaken for fresh springs; in the first after surface mould, sand. &c. the borer passed through hard clays with kuukur, it penetrated to 75 feet when the water jone to the height of the water in the adjoining wells; it was analysed by Dr. Hunter, he considered it unwholesome, its containing a very large quantity of cominon salt, muriate uf maynesia and clay. In the second the same sandy clays, kunkur and white and yellow sand presented themselves at 70 feet : the borer Wits brackish at 81 and at 101 feet the rods came up nearly dry. A well of tiles had been made round the borer for the first 30 feet, and the water rose into it within 7 feet of the surface, fully four feet of the ground. At this place the ground was artificial above the general level of the country. During the whole dry season the water only sub- ·Topography of Calculta. sided in this well 3 feet, and was on the 3rd June, 1805, only 10 feet below the surface, whilst the water in wells at a little distance was 30 feet below it. Here the lowest depth was 119 feet; coarse-grained sand was found, and the soil was very hard, the borer broke and was not recovered. The third was in December, January and Febuary, - 1805-6 ; similar earths were obtained above, and from 114 to 127 feet was found fine yellow sand, coarse sand, and very hard earthhere the borer broke and 91 feet of rods were lost. At 65 feet the water was brackish, but the deeper water rose to within 4 feet of the surface, ind was well tasted. The fourth attempt was in March, April and May, 1806. Sinilar earths presented, very hard, from 120 127] yellow clay, sand and yellow sand; here the auger was partly broken, the edges were found sharpened like a knifc. It was remarked that the water at 66 feet appeared tasteless, probably owing to the heavy rains that season in March, which had made the water in all the wells tolerbe. The late Mr. Jones, a person who was well known as havins opened the Burdwan coal mines, made a boring and found the same earth and clays, but he did not go beyond 70 feet deep; here he found kunkur, clay, and yellow sand, and he says at 70 feet through a stratum of red coarse sand issues a spring which is acted upon by the tides in the river. The borings I have made inave been comparativciy trifling for want of proper apparatus. I however bored down to 40 feet near the west margin of the lake, where I found very stiff* dark clay, and at the bottom some hard kunkur mixed with it. As I mentioned in поу last paper, I bored at the bottom of the circular canal, and found water at the depth of 70 feet from the upper surface which rose 50 feet and formed a pond, which was banked in at the bottom of the canal. This water appeared to me and my friends brackish, but on its first appearance the laborers drank it and said it was good. At this place the clay wliich is of great depth, and in parts benutifully yellow and containing kuukur, was so very stiff, that at 50 feet a large and strong auger was twisted in a most extraordinary manner, aud two Europe-made strong iron-hooks, were broken in extracting the rods, which was done by means of a strong gin and windlass. In a garden in the Circular Road about two miles from the above place I bored through very stiff clay to 70 feet deep, and came to some kunkur and I suspect other harder substance which prevented my getting further, and I found the auger much scratched and polished.

·22 Topography of Calcutta. At Russapaglah I could not penetrate deeper than 70 feet ; at this depth I applied a smaller auger to the bottom of the larger rods with a view to perforate where the large auger failed, but this bruke and was left 70 feet in the ground. In these boring. I found myself much disturbed by the frequent talling in of sand from the upper strata, and I had not a castiron tube to prevent it: such will be necessary in any future boring and a propres frame-work and mechanical means for raising the rous will also be required. I aw old that there are in Fort William different sets of boring instruments sufficient to go a depth of 600 feet or niorc, and that they are of greater strength and excellence than those used in 1805 and 1820; but a gentleman who has lately arrived from England inforins me that a* newly invented Wrer is now in general use and much approved of. Having given bis Lordship a detail of the plans which I respectfully suggest inight be adopted to obtain a supply of fresh water. I also take the liberty of mentioning a few circunstances of information which I lave picked up in the course of my inquiries relative to the Sundarbans. As the circumstances tend to support the principle which 1 laid down in my former communication of the prevalence of malaria in all jangly, marsh and ill-drained situations, and of its effect upon the inhabitants of such places. Baron Humboldt gives tables to prove that in certain placc's the duarion of life has been greatly 'prolonged by attention to cleanliness, inprovements and civilization. A little attention and inquiry will, I believe, go far to prove that there is much room for such change amongst the patives of Bengal, but more particularly amongst the inhabitants of the small and thinly scaliered villages in the Sundarbans, who I am assured are a most wretched and short-lived people, continually suffering from poverty and want of cleanliness and civilization, and frui disorders produced by bad air generated in the jangals surrounding them. Numerous inquiries I have made among intelligent natives confirm this, and although gentle. men who have passed through the Sundarbans may differ a little in this opinion, it is not to be supposed that their curiosity has led them to visit the villages in the interior, or to makc inquiries of such a nature, An intelligent native who • The modelo now very greatly improved, and I think the operation should be a lopted in, our newly acquired ferriiorier-boring for water might bara !oton n'at valuable to our army when in affnugistad.lo the Port a depih of 480 feel was obrained, bui for want of better inntry. weats we were obliged to give it all. F. P. S. 1849.

·Topography of Calcutta 23 has much experience of the Sundarbans in those lands considerably south of Tarda, has assured me repeatedly and most positively, that it is his belief that scarcely one in ten of the villagers escape fevers during the months of July, August and September. The villages he says, consist of 50, 100, or 200 people, including men, women and children. They have their native doctors, but many die appually of fever, and the spleen oisease prevails very much among all, old and young; these opinions apply to the inhabitants born and always living in these jangals, whose constitutions are known to be more capable than others of rekisting the poison of nalaria. The darrogahs, chaprasis, and servants employed by the Government in the Salt Department* are suoner attacked, and when ill they always obtain leave to go to their homes. The villagers are generally salt molungies, wood-cutters, boatmen, fishermen; some shoot game, others collect wax and honey, and others spin and make coarse cloth for the villagers. Of the little land at present cultivated I am informed rice is the chief produce, and grain, cullie and other vegetables grow about the villages, in all which there are tanks: without a tank my informant assures me that no hus. bandınan will settle to work, but wberever a tolerable tank is made, that of itself will loring inhabitants. I do not believe that any Europeans could live in the interior of the Sundarbans as they now are, but were it possible to clear them by cutting down and cultivating from their external ratremities and go on gradually towarıls the interior, and if the land were well drained I see no reason why these parts should not be as healthy as any other place in Bengal. With regard to the external clearing I allude more particularly to the thick and low jangal bordering upon the Salt-water Lake, and which from all I can learn is more productive of malaria than the forest jangal towards the sea. If I recollect right I think Messrs. Schalch and Morrieson when surveying the Sundarbans found it so, the latter in particular as he had a predisposition to fever, and he found in the deep broad rivers where the timber tress around him were high admitting wind, and where low jangal did not prevail, that himself and his servants were well, but when he approached towards the Tarda low jangals, himself and his attendants suffered. I have The Goveroment having lalely removed the salt-works more to the southward has already been found beneficial to the more nori bern gropteer, as the salt molungies bave willingly become agriculuriste; and it will be seen in the mop that along the line of ibe new navigation running direct eastward from the lake, a very great deal of jangal bas been cleared away.

·24 Topography of Calcutta. heard of one respectable country born gentleman who with great industry and assiduity cleared an extensive tract of land beyond the lands I have been speaking of: he fell a victim to malaria. Another who has cultivated and cleared a good deal of jangal lauds between this place and Tarda, is constantly suffering from fever though he visits his grounds only one day at a time, and that only two or three times a month. He employed ae an overseer a healthy Portuguese, but he died of fever before he had been there two months. I may brre mention as regards fresh water, that this latter cultivator mutierens me that in March 18:27 he dug a tank on a high picol. in which he found a spring perfectly pure which filled in place walled in to retain the water about two fret high, and the water continued at the height, although the two adjoining sa-ltlements and all the passengers to the anıount of some hundreds went to this well daily, and if it did sink a little in the day it was sure to fill up the following morning. lle parle it into a tank of 10 cottahıs, and it continues to supply all the neighbourhood, who without this would have to go a distance of 10 or 12 miles for water. He also says that neur a village called Narrainpore there is a fresh spring about three fre: from the surface, but such was the idleness of the villagers that they would not dig a tank; and when he asked then why they did not prefer living upon the higher ground on the river side, they said, they were afraid of being plundried by the boatmen, which is a common occurrence, and lie tells ine that no pative moodic or merchant dara to settle any where except near a Company's thannah. The individual says that be finds very generally upon spots a little raised, a simul or cotton tree, which inakes him think the parts were formerly inhabited ; and the other gentleman found an old house. I believe that the remains of old tauks are liela and there to be found*: upon the whole I have no doubt that if boring for water in these parts should be found inexpedient or inconvenient, it can be collected and preserici in tuniks, at least as good as such water generally is alone Calcutta, so that the want of water should not form an obsperrurient to the clearance and ultimate cultivation of these Jugends which are so close upon Calcutta. But the boring appears 10 nie to be a preferable mode as being cheaper, uure ospeditious, and as by going to a much greater depth • Since this period about 100,000 biggahs have been cultivated, and in all directions the same proote of former cultivation appears.--Still further proof of ihese lands barrig been formerly inbabited is now prired, and Govrrnment huve, ao encarngroept to the grantres lengthenesl the leares of any. F. P. S. 1849.

·25 Topography of Calcutta. than can be gone in tanks, the probability of getting pure water, and a constant supply is increased. These Sundarbang-unlike the Campine of Brabant in the north of the Netherlands which the Abbè Man states “originally consisted of sand, covered with heath interspersed with lakes and extensive marshes, and here and there with woods of fir, and which tradition reports to have been once a part of the sea, and unlike the arid wastes in some parts of India,--are already tertilized in the highest degree by the decaying vegetation of years, and are, 1 respectfully conceive, calculated to produce a new and vast revenue to the state after a time, and when a scheme shall be adopted that shall induce laborers to commence this work to a considerable extent* ; for it is not because the lands are barren that they are uncultivated, but chietly because the air now poisoned by the overgrown jangal is inimical to life, and every year's progress in the removal of this evil adds, in my humble opinion, most materially to the general health of the country. Even the poor Campine of Brabant after partial failures is now stated by the above cited author to possess many extensive tracts well cultivated, and is covered with villages, well-built houses and churches. No doubt much of the country has been cultivated since the period at which Lord Cornwallis remarked that he might with safety assert, that one-third of the Company's territorv in Hindustan was a jangal inhabited only hy wild beasts. We know of jangal as near the presidency as Sonlsagar under European management, having beconie invaluable land, but in the immense forest jangals and uncultivated tracts of Hindustan it is not impossible that a field might be opened in which the natives, and perhaps others, miglit raise for themselves an abundant supply of the necessaries of lite; the field appears inexhaustible and would be employment for thousands, while the cause of much disease and sichness (both among niankiud aud cuttie), would be gradually diminished, for it is ascertained that in those years in which malarial endemics and epidemics have prevailed, epizotic disorders have prevailed amongst cattle. Grants were made in 1929 and 1830 10 numerous person, a hout Allara Badka toibuext lit at 60.000 birgalie, about one-tenth of birth in now suppored tole in culiivatina, in spite of the agency failures and The dreadfol inondation in 1833 ; hopper, several grantees have done dolbing and the five years having long expired tbe land is PPBUDiable by goveroinept to give to othere who will clear it. At tbio 'inor, October 1886, several pilots who have coliivated several tbousand biggaha ntar Aitara Banka, erpect on goud a waion as ebay bad last year wbIGU was highly antisfactory to them.

·26 Topography of Calcutta. Without going into ancient authority, a late writer, Dr. Macculloch, states it as a general fact, that cattle or animals of different kinds do becopie sickly or diseased in the same situations which prorluce the diseases of malaria in the human race and that the consequences are as resembling or analogous as they could be under the differences which exist*. He states three facts to have shown themselves in Eygpt in Hungary, in St. Domingo and Gaudaloupe, as well as in France at Rochelle, and in Auvergne and Raussillan, and alludes to that particularly pointed out by Bailly, of the year 1812, at Arles, and adds that analogus observations have been frequently made in Italy ; and not to quote more than is necessarv, the years 1711, 1738, 1745, 1772, 1783 and 1795, are among those which have been particularly recorded for epizotics among cattle, ench of them being also noted seasons of epidemic fever, or of the prevalence of malaria ; and that further they all occured in the months of August, September, and October, and were also confined to the marshy or unhealthy districts. I am acquainted with some indigo planters who have remarked illness and toortality to prevail among cattle in times when cholera morbus has scourged the land, and I doubt not that there are many persons in Beugal who hare remarked the same thing ; I roysell observed the same in the neighbourhood of Dacca sume years ago. The last year has been more healthy than any I have knownt, and is the first year since I have been surgeon of the suburbs that I have not had an additional number of native cioclosu :0 or : O, stationed at different posts with medicines and inst.we tools to administer to every case as quickly as possible aung the natives, and I believe Calcutta itself" has equally escaped the scourye this year; certainly Calcutta and the Entally suburbs have been generally more healthy than cuul. With my respectful apologies for the length of this Paper I conclude by alluding to one or two localities, particularly this hither end of the oid Entally canal, being always in a fillay state. It was only carly last week that I was called in consuli:tion with another medical gentleman to see a child dangerously ill in the house exactly at this end of that canal. My professional friend now informs me that the child is Marrulloch, n 453. Alibough not noticed hy Dr. M. another Ancieni autbor, Livy remarke, that in the same years in whiob epidemic panti-Dong ar perred among the people, ibere was also a great morrality among the coille. tin she early part of 1828, there was good deal of fever in the Egially burbe for a abort tine, ·Topography of Calcutta. 27 doing well, but that the father and mother have since been both seriously ill, that the latter was delirious, and for some days nearly dying, they have quitted the house ; and such is the nuisance here, that a gentleman and his family have been obliged to quit the very next house to the one alladed to, which is only just behind the Marhatta Ditch, opposite the Dhurrumtollah. As the first step towards eradicating an evil should be to ascertain its cause with as much certainty as the subject will allow, in order to judge of the capability of applying a remedy by its removal, so I have little doubt that upon exatnination and inquiry, the causes of unhealthiness of particular situations in the town and country might be readily traced, and in most cases removed, without so mnch difficulty as might perhaps he expected. It is not to be wondered at that particular parts of the country or the town should be unhealthy, if in the one case they be covered with jangal or swamps, or in the other they abound with nuisances which equally contaminate the air. Pure air as well as pure water is an indispensable requisite for health, but it is impossible to look at the stagnani pools of water, the dirty ditches in the native part of the towil, and particularly at the low ground within tlie Strand road, from where the Hindu bodies are burnt alınost up to the www Mint, which ground is in many places covered with staguant filthy black water, into which stable duny anci other filth is thrown to fill it up, and not to be convinced that such places must make all others near them more or less unhealtbv, while there can scarcely be a reasonable doubt that if these causes were removed, the air would be more pure, and the -ituations now effected by them equally healthy with the best paris of the town. 23 July, 1829 To F. P. STRONG, Esq. &c. &c. MY DEAR SIR, I have been extremely remiss in not having executed a pleasing commission which the Governor General entrusted to me some time ago. It was to requset you would accept His Lordship's thanks for the communication you last transmitted through me for his information, and to say he esteems it an able paper. I remain, &c. Govt. House, 14th August. 829. R. BENSON, M. S.

·28 Topography of Calcutta. No. 4. 1830.- Topogruphy of the Calcutta Suburbs generally. Many localities have been pointed out to me as unhealthy, and the filthy state of the Mussulman burying-ground in the Circular Road, is considered particularly so as making Cossiebeggan, very unhealthy; it is surrounded by broad ditches of stagnant water, filthy to an extreme degrees. Different parts of Tiljallah and Entally are also well known as unhealthy and certain particular houses are considered uninbabitable, A few years back a great number of poor were turned out of grinds* purchased by the Lottery Committee, and they built their huts in a particular part of the eastern suburbst, on the other side of the Circular Road, surrounded by jangal, and loudly drained; so great a number died of cholera, that it was found difficnlt to dispose of the dead bodies; this was after a sudden change of the weather, but these new inhabitants who had local pou a mere jheel. suffered much more than others The small houses occupied by poor Europeans and Christians of evilor, ncar and on the banks of the old Entally mullah. ore creacifully unhealthy, and people are constantly oblice to quit. Continuing along south of the old nullah towards the lake, therr is a great proportion of ground entirelv ringlecter and uncultivated, and this sort of ground is to be obed here and there, among garden ground, filled with logh trees, the maugne, jack, &c and much of this in a filthy state : then you come upon low rice fields, and then the borders of the lake appear. There are to be observed the renaius of several old roads made by the late Mr. John Elliot, but most of these are so covered with jangal, their ditches filled up, bridges broken, and the jangal so impenetrable, that it is impossible to traverse them; the eastern suburbs I now allude tu must at a former period have been in a very superior state to what they are not, and there are several old brick houses, chetlv native, and apparently deserted, which go to confirm this fact. In the south, towards Balleegunge, and near the rice fields, the grounds about the villages present numerous excavations of earth. taken for the purpose of brick-makingt; • Short-bazar grounds. + Marked on the map Curria. 1 Since this was written a Mr. Ward, the opnior clerk of the Sander Board of Revenue, who I have allen Adviced in quit his bonec which 23 on the house of this bullah, bas fallen a virhim to malaria, He wat naturally · very hexlibs, aloui, active #od strong man, wbeo be wont 'o reside on tbis spot. I hear that there was formerly a regulation which prevented bijekuid king on this side of the river, and that fore orly all the bricko were made on the other side of the Loopbly. II. K ·Topography of Calcutta. 29 these being left open, all sorts of nuisances collect in them, but more particularly the leaves of trees, and these decomposing with water and heat must afford a rich production of malaria. Still further south Balleegunge is jangly and badly drained, and Bhawanipore and Russapaglah present a continuance of the same evils, many parts looking more like Sundarbans than inhabited villages. Then going back, and looking to the north of the old Entally canal the same description applies, the same obliterated roads which forinerly ran north and south in the direction of the winds, which were broad and once had good ditches and bridges, all are now useless, and covered with jangal, the habitation of jickals and snakes; and the same belt of jangal and villages is continued towards the Dum Dum road, This constant source of contaminated atmosphere all round our city is sufficient to produce disease, however cleunlg xe may be within ; but Calcutta itselt las not much to boast of in that respect, although it is decidedly much more healthy than formerly.even within my recollection and practice here. The opening of roads by the Lottery Committee over parts wbich I have often traversed when in their unimproved state, has evidently produced a he thiness and cleanliness before unknown, and this fact goes far to prove what good may be done by the free admission of the prevailing winds, by cleanliness, and by surface draining. In the city, and in the back lanes of Chowringhee, the Circular Road, &c. the bazars, which have sprung up irregularly have beconie an intolerable nuisance which ought to be abated The drains all about Colingah, and towards the Circular Road are bad generally, currants of water meeting and running in all directions. Broad roads, with good drains should be contiued from the Circular Road in the direction of the plain *, which is a rice cultivation towards the lake, and cross roads should be made at convenient distances; if such roadst • Formerly there was a very ling ditch which ran out for towardo the Lake, but it is now nearly oblitera:ed. This was brought to my potice by Captain Jenkins. + Sir Edward Hyde East stronuly advised broad roado in the direction of the winds, and ourfane draining instead of so many doep drains as we have, whirb became singnant. Se thought the more saperfrial surface draining properly managed, would keep the donar onrface of the earth tolerably clear and dry, Thot part of Chowringhee behind the theatre, od between thut place and the burging ground, io aokdow, ledged now In be much more healtby then it was before the Dow roade, laoks and buildings were made.

·30 Topography of Calcutta. were made and the jangal cut down, many persons with small incomes would be glad to build in these parts, more particularly about Entally and Tihjullah from being so contiguous to town, where many of such persons have Offices to attend dailv. Ballygunge is ratlier too far off for such people, and would appear to approximate to such places as Allipore and Garden Reach, for gentleman who can afford to have gardens and larve compounds and outhouses. In all probability such new buildings in Entally and Tiljullah would be built upon an improved plan. If small houses, or indeed any houses, were 'built upon godowns, with apertures to keep such godowns well aired*, which might be used for Servants, or to keep things in, would it not be better than the outhouses we now see, with the high compound walls surrounding every place, and which prevents the ingress and egress of air, and renders the air the inmates breathe more contind and foul? and if iron rails + were more generally adopted in the place of the heavy compound walls with pompous gates, habitations would be nich more airy. Large tanks upon an improved plan are much required all about Entally and Tiljullah, as will as along th: Circular Road generally, and I have known un rery dry spasons this want not only extremely distressing to the poor Nalives, but to poor Christians also on both sides of the Circular Road, who have often complained to me how much they for the want of this essential necessary of life. Such large tanks would not only produce mould to fill up Iittle cavities, dirty pools, and certain unnecessary ditches, but they would, it placed where four roads meet, tend greatly to make the place more airy. I think Bishop Heber describes Mirzapore, where there was a school and some Missionaries, as dreadfully unhealthy I the clearing since adopted has rendered that place very healthy; the Bishop also I think, was told by his sirhar how notoriously bad the Entally nullah was, and that he never passed it without his handkerchief to his mouth Sueb plan of building nught to be generally adopted in all low nituations in Brogel. + Since writing thin several house bave b en thus improved ; among them, three of the largest brgees in Esplanade Row now are allowed to receive air, . clear breese from the raidao wbiob was formerly sbut out by bigb walls. Now in my opilent qusre, good large fapk with ind rails round the grouoda, aod Mrs. Wi'son's school is in the corner of the square. A large building is now *rectiog ibere by ile General Angombly of the Scotcb Church, ior the education of unlive youth and the plaoe is now acknowledge to be bealtby.

·Topography of Calcutta. 31 The natives where they reside make all their tanks small, and, as if it was intended that malaria should be produced, they seldom fail to plant trees round their tanks, so that you commonly see the surface of them quite green from the vegetation--this must have been remaked by every one; such are abundant in Intally, on the right and left side of the Balleegunge lines, and all down the Rustapaglah road and Tolly's nullah, and not loss so in Kidderpore. I am of opinion that trees ought never to he planted upon the borders or bank of tanks or nullahs, for their leaves invariably find their way into the water, and laying upon the edge decompose, and go much more to produce the malaria we complain of, than they can act as a surface or barrier to arrest the malaria, as supposed by some authors, although I do not deny that large belts of trees at a sufficient (I mean, a considerable) distance from a city, and properly placed, may perhaps have such good effect, but such an opinion ought not to induce the planting trees near a city, where they are certain to be injurious, not only by their leaves routing, but by impeding the winds, and preventing the ravs of the sun approaching the ground, which remains damp, and assists in the unwholesome decomposition. Such is the case in all the jangal villages around Calcutta, and is evidently the cause of the great yearly mortality in them. All the gentlemen who have gone with me in my drives, agree in the positive statement, that, throughout India, they never met with such crowded green pools, jangal and bad smells, as abound around Calcutta every where in the suburbs; and it should here be remarked regardş filthy pools, and tanks, that they may not only be the cause of sickness by contaminating the air, but may effect the natives who constantly bathe in them, as well as drink the filthy water of such tanks; for in all probability, malaria muy become impregnated with water, and may thus be taken into the system by the skin or stomach. For faather improvements and removing impurities of air at this presideney, the draining of the lake and cutting down the jangal beyond it, 1 conceive to be of great importance, The jangal all dwn to the sea should be removed, if possible, and it would be a great advantage if excavations, or docks, rere made here and there, on each side of the river for ships and vessels to lie in, so as not to obstruct the passage of vessels to and fro. The face of the Lake may probably be materially altered. Ritchie who surveyed the Sundarbans in 1791 speak of the well known village of as ·32 Topography of Calcutta. Tarda, which is inarked on all the maps (as being on the borders of the lake). This place is now about the same distance from the further borders of the lake, as the distance is from the Ballighat entrance, along the navigable canal to its present furthest borders, on the south, Bamanghatta; therefore if Ritchie was correct, a very large portion (nearly half) of the lake must have filled up naturally, for on each side of the river froin Bamanghatta to Tarda, is thick low Sundarban jaugal. I imagine that upon the finishing the canul nou making, and its opening into the Hooghly, that the loke soill almost drain itself—as the low water of the river Hooghly is at times lower than the Lake at low water. Whether this lake be drained, or not, or either so partially drained as to be fit only for rice cultivation, or otherwise warped by mud from the river so as to be converted into garden ground, nevertheless, it is highly desirable for the general health that not only the grounds on this side of it be cleared and improved, but that the Sundarbans beyond it be jemoved in far from the capital as possible. No. 6, 1*28.-Letter to Suddet Nizamut Adawlut on the state of grounds near the Insane Hospital, aud generally throughout the suburbs; pointing out the general unhealthiness produced by their jangly and filthy state, with additional remarks male at a latter period on the effects of the inundations. It will be seen that the number of Deaths in the Insane Il«spital in these six months has been only 10, a rumber con-iderably less than has been usual during the same period for the last 12 years It appears to ine that this advantage has been produced by the making of four sunken and covered necessaries, the nuisance having previously been conveyed loy an open drain from the hospital and round the grounds. I have the pleasure also to report that there has since been n uch less illness than usual, wlich I consider mainly attributable to the improvement and change above alluded to. bey leave, however, to remark that the grounds contiguous 10, and outside of the hospital premises, are in my opinion a wost unwbolesome nuisance, particularly during the rainy stasun, the water not being drained off, but lying in the various hollows, there stagnales ; and corrupting all vegetable and animal inatter it meets with, produces an atmosphere BIOst unwholesome eveu to natives who are used to it. 1 ·Topography of Calcutta. \ 33 There is also close to the entrance gate a burying-ground which brings together dogs, vultures, &c. which of themselves are a considerable nuisance, and upon which grounds the prisoners from the jail of the 24-pergunnahs are daily taken in a body for their necessary occasions. Were they too be taken nearer to the nullah to which this ground adjoins, or elsewhere, for such purposes, and the practice of burying discontinued at that place, it would be not only desirable but would conduce to the healthiness of the hospital. While remarking on the state of the grounds near the hospital it may not be irrelevant for me to observe, that having for upwards of twenty years applied my attention, particularly, to atmospheric causes of disease, and having now, for several years, been surgeon of the suburbs of Calcutta, I may not be going far, if at all, out of my line of duty in pointing out that I.consider much of the unhealthiness of the suburbs, as well as of Calcutta, during and after the rains, to arise in a great measure from the state of the lands in the suburbs immediately round about the town, but more particularly in the Soorrah, Entally, and Balleegunge part of the suburbs. The lands bordering upon these parts, especially to the eastward, are not only more covered with jangal and decaying vegetable matter than elsewhere, but in almost every part of them numerous irregular excavations are to be met with, made for brick-making, and for similar purposes. In these various holes and cavities impure air is generated by the decay and putrefaction of vegetable matter in water, and if impure air so produced is, as it is known to be, capable of causing fever and dysentery, it is not unfair to conclude that certain modifications of this malaria may also be the cause of cholera, which disease predominates in those climates and soils in which fever and dysentery abound. That it may be so produced, is I think sufficiently obvious by the well ascertained fact, that ship's crews in a state of perfect health and a considerable distance, even some miles from the shore, have by a sudden land wind coming on been fatally attacked by the scourge. A striking instance of this nature is recorded by Dr. Macculloch in his very valuable work lately published on the subject of Malaria, a work entitled to the particular attention of medical men and others in this country which is so pregnant with this source of disease. I will here add that I can name at this moment several families about Entally where the whole family are laid up with fever produced most indisputably by the impure air generated about their neigh- ·34 Topography of Calcutta. bourhood, by the decomposition or decaying of vegetable subtances, and several are now removing up to Chinsurah and to other places, their removal being more conducive to their recovery than any medicine they can take while they continue to breathe this atmospheric poison. (Signed) F. P. STRONG, Surgeon to Suburbs of Calcutta, Copy from the 9th Paragraph of my Letter to the Medical Board, dated March 21st, 1835. The same patients (alluding to the patients of the Native Insane Flospital) after being discharged, apparently cured, coming into the hospital again and again from obviously unhealtlıy localities, and other considerations connected with unhealthy situations which would embrace too much space to enter upon at large in this Report, tend to confirm me in my opinion that in the climate of this part of Bengal, atmospheric mularia, ajded by the sudden variations in the temperature of the air, and consequent sudden check to perspitation,- hy bad food, poverty, miserable clothing, and housing in huts crowed together in swampy filthy situations, with a want of cleanliness and ventilation, -by the habits of long fasting and the use of impure water, this being the usual mode of existence among the lower orders of Natives,) is highly calculated to produce diseases which often ultimately end in insanity. This general cause of disease which so much predominates in the suburbs of Calcutta, I forcibly brought to the notice of the Sudder Nizamut Court in the year 1828. About this tinie I was requested to wait upon the Governor General, and I afterwards wrote several papers upon the subject to his Lordship, in which I entered into an explanation of what I conceived to be the principal causes of unhealthiness in Calcutta, its neichbourhood, and the lower part of Bengal. In doing this I was naturally led to make some remarks upon those great sources of malaria, the Salt-water Lake and the jangly Sundarbans adjoining, considering that the draining of the one, and the clearing of the other would be a great public benefit, if even done only with a view of removing such causes of malaria and consequent illness. N ll.

·Topography of Calcutta. 86 In some of the unhealthy spots, but particularly that broad belt of dense jangal and ill drained ground, which exists from the Dum Dum round, and is continued through Dialdah, Extally, Balleegunge, Bhawanipore and down the Rassapuglah roads, reside a vast number of people of a dedominations connected with the city of Calcutta, and who are constantly suffering from illness, which I conceive might be in a great degree obviated by removing such evils by a proper system of large clean tanks, with no trees upon their banks, raising the ground, regulations against nuisances, and good draining. Were this or some similar plan adopted, we should get air more fresh and free, and a heathiness would I think be obtained that does not now exist. In one of these papers I have alluded to, as having formerly written, I particularly mentioned that the year 1828 was a more healthy year than any I had known; I did not then anticipate that the following years would have been so calamitous*. The last five years, the period for which the Medical Board require to be furnished with the details before alluded to, have been unhealthy to a degree unheard of or unknown before, owing no doubt to the inundations which have extensively existed to an unpreecdented degree, particularly in the four last years, aninundation having occurred in each year sweeping away a great part of the population between parts of the 24 Pergunnahs to the southward of Calcutta and the sea, and spreading over other lands to an enormous extent, destroying the cattle, and the produce of the earth, which has not yet recovered froin its effects. Most of the wretched inhabitants of these before populous districts who were not drowned, fled towards our city, and several of these unfortunate beings became inmates of the Insane Hospital. One instance in particular I would wish to be allowed to refer to, as it is a strong case in illustration of the deep distress that must have been felt, and as exemplifying one of the causes of insanity The establishment at Gurriah-haut for affording them relief having been some tiine broken up, these poor unfortunate and starving wanderers were sent to my hospital at Allipore, where I had frequently 60 or 80 of them at a time in hospital. One poor woman was quite frantic ; she would not be comforted or silenced, and becoming obviously insane, she was transferred * The paper was written in July, 1629. For a short period abnut the middle of the year 1828, there was a good deal of ſever in the Eulally Iuburbo, but the following twelve models wen besliby.

·36 Topography of Calcutta. to the laşan ilos vital lasi December. There she would take no nourishm? 'st, she said the floods had robbed her of her children, and she died in a few days of extreme exhaustion*. Threr of these inundations in the lower parts of Bengal to which I have referred were froin the sea, and the other, the last, was produced by the overflowing of the Damoda river. These particular floodinys, I mean the sea and the Damoda river, are unfrequent when compared with the overflowings of the Ganges which are more frequent, and seldom attended with equaliv sorous consequences. It will be seen by a reference to this evusactions of the physical class of the Asiatic Society, pale 2011, part 1.-" That an inundation of the sea, or of the Damoda river is supposed not to happen oftener than once in a century. That remark is in allusion to the dreadful inundation in 18233, and I can find no other account of any sea inundation pcrpt the prentful one of heariy a century ano, which happened in the right between the lith and 12th October, 1737, to be found on the Gentlemau's Magazine 17:8-9: besides great damage 19 shipping and boats, 300,000 souls are said to lave perished, I know of no writtri ricord as to the effect of this sea inondation topon the health of the inhabitants, althongh it was an event sufficiently remarkable to be handed down from fint!!! to con, and I have met with old natives who have heard of it from their fathers. But of the late inundations which I allude 10, their effects are so generally known that it is unnecessary for me to dwell upon them, although I may be ailoued to add from inquiries I have made that these clects have not teen confined to the poor alone, but that laudholders of respectability and their families have been carried off by disease, and this over a vast extent of popudous country, and particularly so in parts bordering on our south and south-east suburbs of Calcutta; and great numbers of these zemindars who fled to Bhawanipore, and to this city for change of air and medical attendance, died of the diseases produced in their villages. In coroboration of what I have stated as to the general anhealthiness produced by Septemnlıer 21, 1833. I was asked by the magistrale, Mr. Barlow, to suggmat any means for arrangementa, ko many priønders and paupers being sick, he derd not know bow to lotge i bem, to which no the 22ud I replied, that “if the pa uppre increanart greally the old Bbawanipore guard, into which we puse the Nazir's people with evident advantage mjeht be availabın upon his orcasion " and I recommended ibe remo. vai mfangraledient divers to the jail 10 make rout fur paupere in the hospital Hbile che guard was getting ready, ·Topography of Calcutta. 37 the inundations and the consequent impure atmosphere, I beg leave to mention a few particular examples which I have learnt. One native gentleman of wealth assures me that his property has been greatly increased by the numerous deaths in his family; and another old gentleman has often enumerated to me the dreadful mortality which has deprived him of all those relations of his who lived beyond Gurriah-haut, about Barriepore. Another native who is interpreter to the Mysore Princes named Nilcomul Bonnerjee, who resides at Bhawanipore, writes me that his wife a few days after the inundation of 1833, went to her father's at Barro, a village three cose south of Barriepore, in a pregnant state, and found two, three and four persons die every day at each house ; that they wanted hands to bury the dead ; that in two or three days her mother, brother, aunt, uncle and nine near relations died; she was confined, and there was no one to look after her. The writer, on hearing this, sent three women and four servants, they all returned ill to his residence, and with exception of his wife and child, they all died in a week. Ever since his wife has been ill with fever and spleen until lately cured. He states that at this time the number of children daily sold by destitute parents in the 24-Pergunahs is enormous. I have a letter before me signed by the old gentleman, he writes-" In confirmation of the truth of Nilcomul Bonnerjee's letter, I can say that I had thirty relations residing in the neighbouring villages in 1832-3 : only one boy is now living, but ill with spleen, out of all these relations. A great number of respectable families suffered as Cossinauth Mullick, Bhagwan Chowdry and others of opulence and respectability. The first and twenty others (being the whole of bis family), all died except one girl; and the last and about eleven in family all are dead hut one boy who ran away to his uncles. This misfortune was almost universal.” It would not be difficult to add many similar examples, all equally proving the wide spread devastation and death caused by the flood and the impure atmosphere ; and I have given the above information in the same detailed manner as I hare heard it to shew the vast extent of general mortality. Many must have been lost in obscurity, for when we see families possessing the necessaries and comforts of life suffering to so great an extent, it may readily be conceived how great must have been the sufferings of the poor, abject and starring.

·38 Topography of Calcutta. Copy of the 9th paragraph of my letter to the Medical Board, dated January 27th, 1834. There are in more distant parts of the suburbs, guards or depots of prisoners who are not so comfortably provided for as those in the jails, and I have sometimes had occasion to remark upon their unhealthiness, particularly the one at Garden Rerol, which was situated in the midst of drains, and from which tive cases of cholera came into the hospital in four days. The Nazir's guard situated in Kidderpore was so unhealty in the last quarter of 1832 that fourteen cases of most maliyrtient cholera came into the hospital from that guard in less than a week, as was noticed in my returns, (Signed) P. P. STRONG. Both th:Su piaces are now much improved. No. 7.--Leste to Major Benson returning the late 1r. Buchunun's papers, and sending for the information of the (toverwor (reneral, some papers written by Capt. Jenkins. To MAJOR BENSON, My. Sccy. to the Governor General. MY DEAR SIR, Pray except my best thanks for the papers on the neans of printmg the bacalth, comfort and convenience of the in-. habitants of this city, which I now return with many apologies for kreping them so long, Not trusting my own judgment regarding the nuisances of the town, I sought the opirion of Captain Jenkins who has written some papers on several of the nuisances, and proposed to remedy some, and with his permission I enclose them for the perusał of the Right Houor. able the Governor General. I will only in this place venture to express a hope that when the new eastern caial is finished, that the levels of Calcutta will be efficiently taken, and something in the way of draining the town done. Regardiug the suburbs, the paper marked No. 21 exhibits a deranged state of things similar to what now actually exists. Many of the recommendations there suggested to drain and level the grounds about Kidderpore where the stagnant water is represented as being injurious to persons residing in that neighbourhood, and on the grounds both on the right and left of the Allipore road, just beyond the bridge, now particularly apply. It is also there stated, that the grounds behind the General Hospital had been represented as having been inju- ·Topography of Caloutta. 39 rious to the invalids in horpital, a road is proposed to be made from this part towards Bhawanipore, or the Russapuglah road, and one crossing this from near the hospital sou hward to Kalighaut, and it is remarked that these roads would be of material consequence to the latives. A cut also from Tolly's nullah behind the General Hospital is suggested. If such cut or canal was made to join the new eastern canal now nearly finished in the north-eastern division of the suburbe, it would of course be extremely desirable for the drainage of Chuwringhee, and all that part of the city ; the bad state of drainage, jangal and suamps througout the suburbs, and particularly down the Russapuglah road I have already brought to the notice of the Governor General, and must not now intrude further upon his Lordshp's valuable time, but subscribe myself with many Yours, &c. 4th October, 1830. (Signed) F. P. STRONG. thanks to you, No. 8.--Letter from Major Taylor calling on me to attend committec at the Government house on draining Calcutta, the Lake, &c. To DR. STRONG. MY DEAR SIR, The Governor General has desired me to request you to meet the gentlemen named in the margin* at the Government house on Tuesday next at half-past two o'clock p. M. for the purpose of considering the drainage of Calcutta in connection with the present circular canal, and the project of extending it round the Salt-water Lake into the deep water channel at Bhamunghatta, together with the drainage and silting up of the Salt-water Lake. Yours, &c. Govt. House, 27th December, 1834. T. W. TAYLOR. *D. McFarlan, Esq. HORRIOD, Beq | J. R. Colvin, Beq. R. D. Maogla, Eng. J. Kyd, Beq. J. Prideer, Era. Capt. Steel, Capt. Fitzgerald, Capt. J. ThomaUD, Dwarkanath Tagore, Ramromal Seio, Capt. Forbes. Cul. Galloway, Col, Tickell, C. B.

·40 Topography of Calcutta. No. 9.-Letter to Mr. Mangles transmitting some of my pupers. To R. D. MANGLES, Esq. Secretary to the Government. SIR, It affords me considerable pleasure to observe that the Medical Topography of this city, and its suburbs, is exciting attention, and as it is likely that this subject in connection with the fever hospital may be brought before the Government, I feel it is in some degree incumbent on me, from the situation I hold, to forward to you, to be laid before Governinent whenever the subject may be brought to their attention, some pa. pers shewing that so long ago as the year 1828, I had addressed the Sadder Nizamut Adawlut, as well as the Right lloporable Lord William Bentinck, and on a later occasion, the Medical Board, upon the same subject, and it will give me great satisfaction to find that some active measures of improvement result from the present discussion. I am, &c. Culcutta, June 18th, 1835. (Signed) F. P. STRONG. No. 10,--Acknowledging their receipt. TO DR. F. P. STRONG. Assistant Suryeon of the 24-Purgannahs. Sir, I am directed by the Honorable the Governor of Bengal to achuowledge the receipt of the interesting papers to which your letter of the 18th instant gave cover, and to assure you that your opinions will not be overlooked when the matters to which they relate come under the consideration of Governiucpt. an), &c. (Signed) ROSS D. MANGLES, Secretary to thc Government of Bengal. Fort William, the 23 June', 1835. S I ?

·Topography of Calcutta. 41 No. 11.—Letter to Magistrate of 24-Pergunnahs on Census of the Zillah. To A. SCONCE, Esq. Magistrate of the 24-Pergunnahs. Sir, I have the honor to enclose for your information a copy of a letter which I have this day received from the Medical Board, requiring my opinion in a statistical point of view. To enable me to come to some conclusion upon the subject, I have already obtained, from different quarters to be relied upon, the mortality within the city among the different sections of society, for the last twenty years. But with regard to the suburbs, and the 24-Pergunnahs, I have only been able to obtain the mortality among the prisoners for that period. I am aware that a census was not long ago taken by the sergeants in the suburbs, of the population within that portion of the district, but I fear from inquiries I have made, that it is not very accurate, and I am told that a more accurate one, including also the deaths and births, and distinguishing the Hindus and Mussulmans, night be obtained if you were to issue a purwannah to the heads of villages, who I am told are designated munduls, or punchayuts. With reference to late orders of government upon the subject of affording information, I beg leave to suggest the above plan, and should you approve of it I shall esteem it a favor if you will follow it up and oblige ine with the result. What I am anxious to obtain is a correct census of the present population, and the deaths and births for any short time previous to this period, so as to enable me to form an opinion of the comparative healthiness of this district, including the suburbs and the 24-Pergunnahs; and in astertaining the number of deaths, it would be desirable to note down separately, those adults of the age of 16 and upwards, and of those below that age. I have, &c. (Signed) F. P. STRONG, ist. August, 1837. Surgeon to 24-Pergunnahs. 1 ·Topography of Calcutta. No. 12.-Letter from Magistrate of 24-Pergunnahs. To F. P. STRONG, ESQ. Surgeon of the Zillah 24-Pergunnahs. SIR, I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 1st instant. I have issued instructions with a view to ohtain the information to which you refer, but I fear the result will not afford that minuteness of detail, or that accuracy you may consider desirable 2. Ti is my object to ascertain as accurately as may be, the number of villages or hamlets in the district-then the number if houses in each village or hamlet, and by reckoning the number of inliabitants in each house within certain villages and in different parts of the district, a general average may he struck, which should give satisfactory data, though not so accurate as night be expected from a well organised system of statistical record. 3. As the inquiry proceeds, if it appears practicable, the minute enumeration of every individual of each pergunnah, and of the births and deaths, of a given period may also be attenipted. I have, &c. (Signed) A. SCONCE, Zillah 21 Pergunnahs, the 7th Aug. 1837. Offg. Magistrate. To F. P. STRONG, Esq. Surgeon of the 24-Pergunnahs. SIR, To enable nic to furnish the information respecting the heath of the native population of tbis district during the last four months, required by the 3rd paragraph of Mr. Secretary Mangles' addiess to me dated the 8th instant, as noted in the wirgin*, I shall feel greatly obliged by your supplying ine with any particulars on the subject that your professional duties may have put you in possession of. I am, &c. JOHN C. ERSKINE, offg. Collector. 2 The 17th Auyust, 1837. • The state of health among the native population during the lase four mnoths, particularly specifying if ibe rates of mortality bart beca greatly above the average in any quarter ·C'erus of the Population in the Suunrhs of Calcutta. 42 Names of Thappalis. No. of Villages. Resident Ilindu adults. No. of Melials. Ilindu Children, No. of Hindus in Service. Resident Mussulman adoles. No. of Mussalmans in Service. Mussulman Children, Nalive Lodgers or Passengers. European adults. European Children. Eat Indian adults. East Indian Children. Total Inhabitants. Topography of Calcutta Thannah Salkeah,.. 132 24 63 4G 73,446 Dilto Chitpore,..... 8 33 4 53 1| 42,650 Diito Maniclulah,.. 31 441 67 759 123 54,935 Ditto Tauzeeraut,.. 99 5+ 15 45 27 43,950 Dit:o Nowlazaree,... 1 28 8,465 2,689 631 31 501 65 22.212 Grand Toal, 217193 * The columns are not included in that of the Total,

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·per cent Topography of Calcutta. 43 No. 13.- Letter to Collector on Public Health in the 24-Pergunnahs. TO THE HONORABLE JOHN C. ERSKINE, Collector of the 24-Pergunnahs. SIR, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, requesting my opinion as to the health of the native population of the district of the 24-Pergunnahs for the last four months. If we may consider the mortality among the prisoners as affording data to estimate the mortality in the district, I should say that the last four months have not been unhealthy, when compared with the same months for preceding years. Among the prisoners for life confined in the Allipore jail, I find the mortality has been less than six per cent per annum; while the mortality among the prisoners in the zillah jail, including those upon the roads in the suburbs, amounts to only a little more than four per annum, and among these were some who were returned in a dying state from the Burdwan roads. From the reports ) get from the native doctors stationed in different parts of the suburbs with the prisoners, and who assist in adıninistering medicine to villagers when cholera prevails, I learn that there has not been much sickness in the suburb villages. As regards the interior of the 24-Perguunalis, I am told hy well informed persons with whom I often communicate, that although the population is wonderfully decreased since the inundation, yet, that the health of the people generally is rather better than usual, and that they look forward with better hope for good crops on their lands, since the rains commenced, than they did a fortnight ago, when they were niuch depressed by the extreme heat, and the expectation and feur of a bad harvest. Such I believe to be the honest state of things as far as a considerable part of the population are concerned ; but it is admitted that there are some parts of the district where some of the tanks remain brackish, where the land has not quite recovered the effects of the inundation, and where the zemindars cannot induce rayals to locate. I am unable to speak accurately as to mortality generally but to show that I have endeavoured to obtain such infurmation, I enclose you my letter to the niagistrate, and that gentleman's answer thereto, written previous to your application to me, and with his assistance I shall be most happy if ·44 Topography of Calcutta. in future we should be able to ascertain these matters with some degree of certainty. I have, &c. (Signed) F. P. STRONG, 24th Aug. 1837. Surgeon to 24-Pergunnuhs. To R. MACAN, Esq. Officiating Registrar of the Sudder Dewanny and Nizamut Adawlut. Sir, As I am endeavouring to make a table of the mortality of different sections of society, and as I have already succeeded in obtaining that of the Hindus and Mussulmans within the city of Calcutta for the last five years, and of the other communities for the last twenty years, and as I have ascertained the nortality among the prisoners within the Allipore jail, as well as those of the 24-Perguunahs, for twenty years also ; I am desirous if possible to ascertain what may have been the rate of mortality of the prisoners who were sent from the different Bengal zillahs to work upon the great roads, from the time they were first sent--(which if you have obtained answers from the circular ou sent, similar to the one I receive ed) you will see at one view. As these are a class of prisoners peculiarly circumstanced, 1 may be able to judge how their health has been affected, as compared with those who have not been sent to so great a distance. When I am favored with the old medical returns to your court anidrior to the year 1817, which I understand I shall obrain I shall be able to make a comparison of the health of the prisoners before the great jail at Allipore was built, with their state since the erection of that ca pacious and airy buildmg in which prisoners, entering often in advanced ages, and remaining there for life, present a mortality of 51 per cent. per annum; and with a view to carrying my investigation further I may add, as regards the general population of the district, that our magistrate is endeavouring to ascertain the census of the population, with the births and deaths of the Hindu, and Mussulman population. Should you have received answers to all your circulars upon this subject above alluded to, I shall esteem it a favor if you will obtain the sanction of the Court of Sudder Nizamut Adawlut to my being allowed the papers, or otherwise, a statement of such ·Topography of Calcutta. 45 mortality occuring among the prisoners on the great trunk roads, from the time they were at first so employed, to the time of their being broken up and returned to their zillabs. I have, &c. (Signed) F. P. STRONG, Calcutta, the 7th Sept. 1837. Suryeon to 24-Pergunnahs. 19th February. 1838. To WILLIAM COBB HURRY, Esq. Secretary to the Municipal Committee. Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, and feel flattered that the Comnittee of Municipal enquiry consider the Papers on Topography of nge. In these Papers, I had, in that part which relates to the comparative mortality of Europeans, in my general Tables of Mortality for Calcutta, annexed to my Topographical Papers. purposely left out the Soldiers in the Fort, as well as the Sailors belonging to the Merchant Ships of this Port, because their numbers vary, and they cannot be considered as actual residents; the addition of them therefore to the number of European residents, would not only have rendered the subject of mortality inore difficult than it at present is, but would have presented a ratio of mortality amongst the settled Europeans higher than it is in reality. In this latter class, the proportionate mortality might naturally be expected to be less than amongst a class of men such as Soldiers, and especially Sailors, whose habits and mode of living expune them more to effects of climate, than the ordinary European inhabitants 2. Finding inquiries made as to the best mode of making tanks, I am led to suppose the Municipal Committee contemplate the excavation of such reservoirs of water in localities most desirable for the convenience of the public, and as I have on a former occasion examined the soil about Calcutta and its neighbourhood, it is possible that what I have to offer upon the subject of tanks may be considered of some utility. 3. I believe it will be found that the soil generally is of such a nature that if tanks are properly constructed they may be made to retain the rain water from year to year, without the necessity of introducing river water into them.

·46 Topography of Calcutta. 4. The upper soils are found almost universally to be very sandy, and calculated to allow the water to escape from the tanks by percolation ; but if the clays, which fortunately for Calcutta are sutficiently near the surface to form the beds or foors of tauks, were dug down to, as they lie on an average at about 22 feet deer, and the same clays, a little modified, used to line the sides of the tanks as high as their upper margins, it seems to me probable that this lining (or puddling) would, if properly performed, prevent such percolation, whilst it would also prevent the admission of any impure or brackish water from the interior of the soil into the tanks, which I conceive often renders their water somewhat analogous to the well water, which is every where more or less brackish from its infiltration through the earth, and particularly through the stratum of sand which is a little above the clays. 5. I think I am borne out in this view of the subject by the nuture of the soil, as ascertained in the following experiinents which I refer to as the result of certain borings I formerly made in the line of the Circular Ruad, on each side of the Maharatla Ditch, and to the eastward, on the western margin; as well as in various other parts of the Salt-water Lake, with a view to ascertain the nature of the soil. 6. I will begin with the boring at the Baug Bazar Bridge, when the evil was being removed for the present Circular Caval. The Canal labourers had dug a well 21 feet deep from the Alvor or bottom of the Canal. The whole depth of this well was entirely clay, very compact, and slate coloured, the auger was applied to the bottom of this well, and continued to bring up a similar kind of clay, in part of which Wus mixed a good deal of peat earth, very black and capable of being burnt. This clay continued to the depth of 96 feet from the Avor or bottom of the Canal. At 93 feet we seemed to have tapped a spring, for the rods suddenly dropped two or three feet without the least pressure or moving round, into strong Sandy and reddish gravel, and, on withdrawing them, up rushed a column of water ishich filled the shaft of the well in five minutes, and flowed over the wooden platforin on the top of the well, with so much force, that we had great difficulty in stopping it, though the platform was einbeded in the clay and had only a hole in the centre, sutficiently large to admit the rods with a small auger. A quantity of very tenaceous clay which bad been excavated in making the well, was close by, and with this we thought we lad stayed the four. With a view to ascertain how high ·Topography of Calcutta. this water would rise in a tube, we put one of wrought iron down, which not being quite water-tight, failed and the following morning early, the late Mr. Kyd and myself convey ed a long leaden tube to the spot but we found the water bad broken through, and 80 filled the canal, that the Jabourers upon that work had found it necessary to remove our Gin, &c. and we of course were obliged to give up this operation. 7. This experiment in some degree corresponds with the boring which I bad previously made about the centre of this canal three miles from this spot at Sealdah ; with this difference, however, that the clay at the latter place, Sealdah, was extremely tenacious, and of a bright yellow colour ; and, instead of the water rising from 96 feet, it rose from a depth of 50 feet from the platform at the bottom of the canal, or, 70 feet from the surface. Here there was no well, but we boied in clay nearly the entire depth, and so stiff was it that two large Europe made iron hooks were broken in extricating the rods from out of it. No water appeared till reaching the depth of 70 feet, but at this depth the water overflowed into the canal with much force. Its parity was doubtful, but in the boriny at Bang Bazar, the water was entirely sweet. It is therefore difficult to say, whether at the latter place, the water caine froin the river, or front an (1 tesian spring such as we are in search of. 8. On this boring I have remarked, at page 50 of my Topography, as the result of my observation at that time, April 13rd, 1829, “ That in digging tanks no object is to be gained by making them of extraordinary depth under the expectation of meeting with springs of fresh water, but that they must be considered rather as reservoirs for rain water ;' and every experiment since has led me to believe that the Calcutta taiks are not supplied by springs but hy rain water, which drains into them from the surface, and oozes through the sandy stratum which is above the clay. From the latter source, particularly, much brackish and in pure water is admitted. If, in making new tanks, the stiff clay, which is quite impervious, be dug down to, and then made to form the bed of the tank, I do not conceive that this clay would nix or unite with the water to make it impure, like the water that passes through the saline upper soils, and which might be prevented percolating through the sides of the tank by properly puddling them with some of the same clay a little modified.

·48 Topography of Calcutta. 9. As for the tanks draining the water from the surrounding soils, I submit that there is porous earth enough every to take those waters off. 10. The bottom of the tanks then having an impervious stratum, if the sides be properly puddled or lined, the only consumption of the rain water from these tanks will be by evaporation and use. 11. By these means a quantity of this valuable article will be retained in these reservoirs which is now lost, and besides the purity of the fluid itself being preserved, the poorer classes of our native subjects would have an abundance, where now they have only a scanty supply, and that of the worst description. 12. Should it still be found necessary to resort to tanks for water for the roads, some of the present reservoirs might be set apart especially for the purpose and they might be filled from the river when occasion required. 13. To shew that at no great depth stiff clay abounds in all directions, quite applicable to the purpose of forming impervions floors to tanks, and which if not of itself, yet, when inixed with other materials, such as are used for lining (or as it is called puddling) the sides of canals in Europe, is calculated to line or puddle our tanks here, I beg to append a series of experiments made by me in continuation of ny borings. 14. In a garden on the Calcutta side of the Circular Road between the Durrumtollah and the Burying Ground, I found the usual layer of peat earth and stiff clay within the range of tank-making, and in this clay, at the depth of 70 feet from the surface, hard and large pieces of konker. The difficulties we met with at this depth were so great that we were obliged to abandon to experiment. 15. About two miles eastward of this last boring, and the one at Scaldah before alluded to, which are nearly two miles apart, I bored in ground near the margin of the Lake, again at the distance of two miles, to the depth of forty feet, and in both cases, soon canie to the same charred, peaty earth, and stiff clay. About a inile more eastward within the Lake, on the banks of its navigable channel, the same appearance to the depth of forty feet presented itself. I now entrusted the further operations on the Lake to a man I could depend upon, who took the coolies I had hired for the purpose, to the northern division of the Lake towards Duni. Dum; also ·Topography of Calcutta. 49 to the eastern parts, and to the southward as far as Bamaunghatta. They brought me from all the different borings samples of earth of the same kind as I have described, with this exception, that towards Bamaunghatta the earth was a little more sandy, that brought from Tardah, five miles beyond the Lake, was perhaps yet more so. I have since examined the soil at the salt works now making five miles bevond and south of Tardah, and found there still less clav and more sand. Iudeed so much does the silicious soil predominate that the embankments are with difficulty inade at this place, while on the other hand, the clay so abounds on the Calcutta or western side of the Lake that the bunding of the salt works at Balliaghaut was effected with ease, and the excavations now making on 150 bighas of Lake ground as a dock to contain 200) river craft, shew a superabundance of excellent clay uear the surface in all directions, and from this spot there is now an excellent einbankment formed, which is continued ncarly half through the Lake. 16. For information upon the subject of puddling, I would refer to London's Encyclopædia of Agriculture, and edition, page 620, article 3824, and for further information, that author refers to the works of Philip, Fulton, Chapman, Plymley, Bladestade, Kindersley, Anderson, Telford, and the article Canal, in the three principle Encyclopædias ; but as the Members of the Municiple Committee may not at the moment have these works to refer to. may mention that it appears from the experience of others that the best coating or lining, for the sides of tanks or canals, is a soil consisting of argillaceous and siliceous earths, well mixed together, both of which I have reason to believe are here everywhere abundant; at any rate this much is certain, that about the depth of 20 feet, a blue clay and ca id exists, and if not already fit for the purpose of puddling or lining, could be readily made so. I have the honor to be Sir. Your obedient Servant, F. P. STRONG. Calcutta, 17th February, 1838. N. B. Since the commencement of my inquires it has been ascertained satisfactorily that the whole soil of the Lakes possesses sufficient tenacity to admit of embankments in every direction. June 18, 1810.

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·YEARLY REPORT FROM THE SURGEON 24-PERGUNNAHS ON THE Dieting of prisoners, &c. Report for the year 1847, of the Surgeon of the 24-Pergunnahs to the Inspector General of Hospitals, shewing the advantage of good food and other care in lessening mortality, also more particularly the necessity of animal food and proper condiments in a damp climate leke Bengal for rice-rating Prisoners. SIR,--I have the honor to forward my Report of the life prisoners in the Allipore Jail, and the temporary prisoners in the Zi!lah Jails of the 24-Pergunnahs for the year 1847. The Returns shew that the former who select, cook, and purchase their own victuals with an allowance of 4 pice a day from an excellent bazar brought daily to the Jail, have enjoyed excellent health, and that their food and employment have been congenial to that class of Indian prisoners. The annexed table (A) shews the mortality in this jail to be little more than 5 per cent. per annum erceptiny in the years 1842 and 1843 during the crection of scveral internal divisions' walls. * In thia Jail, as will be seen by the annexed table beginning January 1886 the period wben for statistical purposes the Sudder Nizamut Adawlut, at my request, allowed me to separate those life prisoners from the temporary Zillah unes, the average sickness in Hospital for ten years afterwards, was 8.01 per cent. per diem; the mortality 5.60 per cent. per annum. In this year 1836, the Magistrate officially reported to the Prison Labour Committee, the morte Jity had been for the previous ten years 5.25 per cent. at Allipore. The court made a favorable report of my exertions so for back as 1821, in which year the sickness was 8,33 per diem, the mortality 9.02 per conto per annam, for the fola luwing, 15 years up to 1896, the sickness was reduced to 4.70 per diam, and the mortality to 6.36 per cent. per annum, excluding Cholera mortality: + The Prison Discipline Committee remark, page 47, in speaking of the Allipore Jail.-“ Nine tenths of the prisoners in the Allipore Jail are confiaed for life, every one of these men sooner or later die in confinement one of the convicts on the roads are confined for life, the vast majority of those there. fore onght to be released many years before their deaths. Thus the average age of life prisoners must be ever much greater than the average age of tem. porary prisoners, and consequently the ratio of deaths amongst the former must ever "caterie paribus" greatly exceed the ratio of deaths amongst the latter, when the contrary.is ibe case the difference of bealthfulness must be excessive."

·2 The past year has been healthy among the inhabitants of Calcutta, as exhibited by the city mortality reports, with which I have been favored, and the annexed table framed by myself, shews the city mortality to average 5.60 per cento per annum, including all classes for a series of 31 consecutive years. Nevertheless, I could wish to record, that I still continue to advocate the carrying into execution the improved continuous ceiling ventilation ordered by Government in the Allipore Jail, and alluded to in my last report, for, in the event of great sickness taking place, at any future time, such ventilation might be of. tlie utmost iinportance, and the same observations apply to the Allipore and Russah Jails, and to the Hospital. In noticing the necessity of ceiling ventilation in the Allipore Jail, I should have referred you to my special report upon that lustitution to the then Superintending Surgeon, Dr. Hough, under date the 29th of January 1844, appendaging my letters to the civil authorities. I had inet Mr. Carmichael Smyth, one of the then sudder judges,* and Mr. Battye, the Superintendent, previous to this period—when ou placing 100 men in one of the wards it was agreed that they appeared much too crowded; so much so, indeed, that a building was crected outside the jail to contain articles which had previously occupied an entire ward within, in order that this ward might be then occupied by convicts, and the overcrowding avoided. In my appendlaged letter8th August 1842, I remark, “Mr. Carmichael Smyth was induced to consider the overcrowding of the jail * This Jail having been up to a late period 1844, under the immediate Buperintendence of the Sudder Nizamut Adawlut, to which Court I always made direct communications. The controul of the Allipore and Zillal Juil was in that year vested in the Sessions Judge of the 24-Pergunnabs. Register's letter of Sudder Nizamut Adawlut, 11th Oct. 1814. Ectract from the Sulder Vizamut Adawlut's letter to Government on the crowding in the Allipore Jail. Para, 6. On 1st October 1840 the visiting judge, Mr. Smyth, lad 100 prisoners collected in one of the wards, with all their clothing, mats, &c. in order that he might ascertain from personal observation whether the wards were over-crowded or otherwise. 7th. An inspection of the ward, with its inmates, satisfied the visiting judge that the ward was not adapted to hold more than 100 to 120 pri. soners with due attention to their personal comfort; and the cleven wards of the jail cannot therefore, in the opinion of the visiting judge, be considered as capable of accommodating more than 1,200 or 1,250 prisoners. 8th. The court would beg to refer the Right Honorable the Governor to the romarks contained in Mr. Batty, the superintendent's letter of the 81st ultimo, from which it would appear, that the prisoners in the Allipore jail are at present only allowed 290 cubic feet to each man, instead of 600, as has been recommended by the best authoritics who have written upou that subject.

·3 as the main cause of the then increased mortality;" at his request I met him and Mr. Battye at the jail, and we collected 100 convicts and placed them in one of the wards—both Mr. Smyth and Mr. Battye agreed that they were too much crowdedand Mr. Smyth felt more confirmed in his opinion, when I pointed out to him, on paper, that the ages of the deceased were rather under than over the average age of those who died among the Allipore life prisoners generally. (Last month, December 1847, ton convicts died, the average age of each being as much as 73 years and a half, whereas in the period I allude to, the average age was only 14.*) In future I shall have only aged life prisoners in this jail under my charge, the class here alluded to have been transported by Act XIV. of 1844-passed 6th July same year. I should be sorry to have the jail too much crowded. Previous to the erection of the new ward 1,452 convicts occupied cells giving 132 men per cell, the cubic measure of each contained 38,368 cubic feet of air to breath. There are now besides the ward converted into sulitary cells, 12 complete wards each generally containing more or less 100 prisoners. I believe, at the period alluded to, it had been in the contensplation of Government to remove the zillah prisoners, or a part of thein, into this Allipore jail, as the life prisoners were in future to be transported beyond seas, but this transportation has been in practice now for a considerable time, and vet the convicts in the jail are not so much reduced in number as might possibly have been expected. In December, 1844, the place contained 1,173 prisoners, and it has never at any time since been brought under 1,000, I have heard that it is again under question whether or not to transfer the zillah prisoners to this jail. Now though it would be much more agreeable to me to have my duties as central as this arrangement would make them, I can hardly think such a measure can conduce to general salubrity without a very considerable augmentation of the jail building. In the letter above alluded to, I recomniended that upper sleeping apartments should be erected on the top of the present ones, that the division walls should be taken away, and that stockades should be put in their place, as advised by Mr. Battye, then superintendent. I suggested also that the bricks of these walls might answer for the proposed upper apartments, while the doors and iron * Average age of those who died was, in 1839,..................... 42 1840,....................... 43 1841, 42 1842, ...................... 44 1843, ...................... 41 ·4 window bars in the present wards would be available for the wards above, and the lower wards would make excellent working rooms, prevent the exposure of the prisoners, during work, to the heated Jivision walls, and screen them from the rain. I further dwelt upon the necessity of the continuous ceiling ve.- tilation, (since ordered by Government, under date June 25th 1845, sce Under Secretary's letter,) if neither the partition walls were removed or wpper dormitories erected. Should it ever occur that any considerable number of temporary zillah pri- Boners are to be allded to those prisoners who have to eke out their existence in jail, surely the ventilation alluded to, would become oubly necessary, ventilation, however, must always, as to number and extent, bear a proportion to the degree of crowd.. ing, and, as we cannot tell where crowding may take place to the utmost extent, it would be wise at once and beforehand to provide ventilators on a scale to meet any emergency. The Medical Board's reinark in a circular of 1843, is to the point. • Ventilation is a point of such vital importance, that every measure which can be alopted should be carried into effect, for in proportion to the purity and airiness of the wards, will be the health of the convicts. Ventilation therefore should be promotei by having ventilators in the upper part of the wards and spacious iron barred openings on the ground floors, with an unconfinel area on the outside. Thu Zillalı or temporary prisoners for the past year have been remarkably healthy, and the table of sickness and mortality in the Russah Jail shews a favorable comparison with those of the three preceding years, the mortality being only 3.81 and with the four Suburbs Jails included only 3.91 per cent. per annum, indicating beyond a doubt, the great advantage of the two meal per day rations, now in operation for four years. If it should be remarked that during the 26 months, including August 1839 and Septeinber 1841, long previous to the beginning of the present two meal rations, health was good and mortality small, I would respectfully bring to notice, that, the above was a period when Mr. Biscoe, at my suggestion, greatly improved the foud, including in the diet, the same proportion of animal food now allowed, and that, when Government disallowed this food, the sickness and mortality increased considerably up to the conimencement of the present system. So that although during these 26 months this improved ration was given in one meal, it was nevertheless good, and supported health accordingly. I have now every hope and expectation, if such advantages are continued, the prisoners will reap the like advantages in perhaps an cren yet liigher ratio as the ·5 improvement has been gradual, as shewn in the annexed tables. I have added the last remark from having heard that in the reports of the civil authorities forwarding my opinions and tables upon the present ration system, it was cbserved, by one of those authorities, that at one period, previous to the new system, and when the prisoners had only one ineal per day, the inortality was low, I suppose allusion was made to the picrind of 26 months, which I have specified. I imagine this must have been the case, but as those reports do ut coine under my cognizance, I cannot speak with certainty to the point. It is, however, casy to understand how persons, who live been working upon only one meal a day for a succession of years, (and a meal too with hardly any animal food), should become healthy and strong when the meal given for 26 months assiinil.itel, almost exactly, to the inproved ration that has now been distributed for four years ; numcrous communications transmitted to me by the Sudder Nizanı at Allawlut. sering the food formerly allowed to the prisoners in the neighbouring zillahs, and in which the court remark upon their hurdly erer obtaining fish, go to confirm my opinion on the absolute necessity of a certain proportion of sone animal food for men who work, and it would in my judgmert be much letto il those prisoners who do not work were also allowed sole Motion, I say lalt,) of such nourishing food. I innex a talle alstrart ny of this talle printed here. Editor.] in addition tıs, and in continuance of iny printed table of six years and eight months, ad I venture licre to quote the opinion of Sir James Graham showing how strongly he coincides with myself on the subject of dieting prisoners. “ Sir James Grahanı, Hır 11:1 jesty's Secretary of State for the Home Departner, in a letter to the Churrinen ot Quarter Sessions, dated 271.12 January, 1843, adopt: We recommendations of the Inspectors with regard to diutaries, and offers the following rery proper observations : I desire to call the especial attention of the magistracy to those rules which relate to the liet of Prisoners. On the proper alljustment of this particular their livalth mainly depends : and I am convinced that * See my former letters to the Superintending Surgeons, and lengthened correspondence for sveral years, with the Sudder Dewanny Aduwlut, when the Jails were imler the superintendence of that Court. We mury here quote an extract we have seen from the Medical Board's Letter upon the stule of prisoners in the 24-Pergunnah Jarks as relating to Mr. Strong's suggrstaons : “ We therefore strongly urge the recommendations of the Civil Surgeon " to be carried into effect, as the results which he has brought forward to prove that a nutritious duet did preserve the health of the prisoners in a “ remarkable degree, appear to us to be inapable of disproof (1843.)"- EDITOR.

·6 the arloption of the proposed scales will prevent the recurrence of those complaies which have frequently been preferred, and in some instances justly, protirred, aguinst the prison authorities. It is by no means intended that the piccise articles of food specified in the dietaries should be strictly adhered to in the table which you may adopt; other kinds of food, conierung an equivulent amount of nutriment, inay, with advantage, be substituted, when those articles which have been named are either difficult to be obtained in your neighbourhood, or are considered not suited to the custoins und habits of the prisoners, but that quantity of food muni, in all cases, be given which is sufficient, though not more than sufficient, to maintain health and strength at a moderate cost; and while lue cure should be exercised to prevent any approach to luxurions livrug in a prison, the diet onght on no account to be made an instrument of punishment. I have consulted not only the Prison Inspectors, but medical men of the greatest eminence, possessing the advantage of long experience; I llave carefully revised the dieturies now in use, and I bave come to the conclusion, - Istls, That animal food should in all cascs forma part of the diet of prisoners employed at hard labour. 21.2ly, That a considerable portion of th: food of every prisoner should bolil; och, 3rı!!!. That there should be variety in the kinds of four forming the dirt, and that occasional changes are necessary. The diebules which I now offer for your adoption are franied on these princip!'s, an al upheld by medical science, and hy the recommendajion of persons un whose authority und knowledge reliance may be placed, l'ut they have been framed witbout reference to the local situation of partir-ular prisous, or to any peculiar circuostunces which may render an ik rease necrossary; they are therefore proposed in the minimum amount which an safely be affordded to prisoners without the risk of inflicting puusement votrontemphitril by lui, anel which it is unjust and cruel to nuitet: namely, loss of health and strength tbrough the inudlejnacy of the food supplied.' INSANE IIOSPITAL. As regards the Insane llospital, the inmates have only lieen removed into it from the 15th of September last, some delay in erecting the external compound wall having caused the building to remain unoccupied during the rains, and weeds collected in the two Hospitals, which, unlike the other wards * We have seed documents which show that Mr. Strong after bering for many year's adrocaled the allowing 4 instead of 3 pice a day to the temporary zillal prisoners, began in his Report of 1837, to place his opinion on this point upon public record, and he prored by Tables the fact of much greater mortality among these than among the life prisoners, a fact, after considerable discussion uknowledged loy the Government, The inortality among the two classes is how shown by Tables since 1836. For the 20 years' prior to that date, it is probable mortality annoug the life prisoners may have been more or less 5 per cent. per annum; for in that year the Magistrate reported to the Prison Discipline Comunittee, that the average mortality had been 5.25 per cont. per annum for the 10 previous yeurs, and the tables show a very small increase since, up to this periud, among these very old convicts; that among the temporary is very much greater, and it appears that it is only since the last four years' good rations, that the great mortality among the latter has been brought down in 5 per cent. and even much less. --Ev.

·7 and verandahs, were not covered with asphalta ; in this condition, they proved to be so damp* that I feared to place the sick in them. After my representation of this, I met the present Executive Officer, and it was determined that they should be filled up. * They are also on lower ground than the other buildings. I had previously advised this ground to be raised. See my annexed letter to the late Executive Officer. A memorandum dated as far back as the 28th March 1843. "I think the ground on which the Ilospital is built should be raised by at least 5 or 6 fect independent of the foundation, and a tank for the women, with a compound walled in, will be necessary. The Female Hospital should also be adjoining, and not near the Men's Hospital. The site of the Asylum should be as near the present excellent tank, as can well be managed, and the bank of this tank which is now unnecessarily high will help, with the mould of the new fumale tank and another exterior tank, to raise the ground, which is every where about here low and irregular. The draining from the tops of the building might be directed into the tanks. I would advise good tanks, the Insanes have been used to excellent large tanks, and extensive ground at Hussa. There were formerly wells in each compound of the Russil zullnh Jail, close loy, and all have been As regards wells for «rinking water, I believe zone are good any where about here, wells were lately made in the Allipore Jail, and found to fail, the water proving bad. It underwent chemical analysis by Professor O'Shaughnessy, who proved it to be m.pure. I therefore cannot recommend well wuter för Junking, the ground on that site being only just over the nullil.. Tanks will be necessary on the ground, which should be carefully levelled with a slope tuwards the nullal, and the Ilospital (Irains should be made of a lasting material, add after the latest and most approved method. The site of the ground (r) imıncdiately north of the burying ground, might be laid out as gardry ground for the Insanes to work in by clay, but it might be questionurlc whether hy night, the exhalations arising, and blown by the south winds so uirectly upon this spot, would not be iojurious to Berlus I therefore think the site marked (A) as proposed for an Insane Hospital, being near«r to the great tank and to the public road, and west of the Sudder Court, would prove a more appropriate spot. 1 may add, that Mr. Surgeon Marshall, the Inspector of Hospitals, went over these grounds with me this morning, and his opinion is decidedly in favor of the sitc (A) and I should hope as all the ground belongs to Government, the present tank as well as the ground (c) may be retained as garden ground. If as much ground for work, exercisc, and air, as the Insanes now enjoy, cannot be retained, Mr. Marshall would not advise the site to be removed, but should there be any objection to site (a) then the ground occupied by the Dog Kemel, would be better perhaps than building the Asylum immediately close to the burying ground, however the site () may advantageously be taken in, as garden ground, with access to the large tank, whether the Hospital be built on the site marked (v) or un that of the Dog Kennel. I suggest these ideas, as the papers and plans are sent to us that any objection or proposition should be made now, and not hereafler, wleu can pence shall have been incurred.

·8 repairvi and also covered with asphalt. The above officer undertakes to eflect a good drainage, there being at present a deficiency in that respect. He is also about to make covered well necessaries throughout the building; for no less than three escapes have been attempted through the present awkward privies, which I condenied from the first, (see my letter to the late Executive Officer, daterl January 1841 annexed, *) and a As reuarila troring, I have always objected to Chunar stones, but as a good puriva tlooring of good materials, is now proposed, I can have no objection to that. It may, however, be a question whether Asphalta flooring, lavely wloptert in Europe, may not answer for this Asylum. I have won considered a wooden flooring for Insanes to be the most fit of all will loe pzoper that there should be separate cooking places for the Hindous and the Mussulunans." * To Mejor Goodwin, Ciru. Architect, Fort William, Calcutta, Jummary 1847. Sir ---! Pare the houor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th 1:stuent, with an original letter from the Secretary Military Board :14. Muurus, ilul copy of the plan of the Insane Hospital just erected bere. You rukost ine to furnish you with any observations on the structure, or any regulations, that. I muy consider likely to be useful. I rouri, the plan, and letter of the Madras Board as requested. As the Ines are not as yet placed in our new Asylum, ] cannot spenk positivoiy from retual experience as to its structure, but upon the whole I certainly :;pprove of it. The wards ure high and airy, and verandalas, as well as the compounds appear to be every thing that can be wished, and so you intorin me in your letter of the 911 instant, that you have been parti" urly enjoined to make the arrangements such as I approve, viz. (the rovered well privies, and surrounding wall.) I trust There will low little to and fault with when the Insanes are lodged in it. If I were to anticipate any error it perhaps inay turn out that the night privies are not quit so well adapted for cleanliness and health as the covered well privies have prove to be for nearly 20 years at the old Insane Hospital, and the large Jail Ilospital at Allipore. It was in 1828, I first suggested the adoption of them, and I have in muy Reports stated then to have proved entiruly successfui. Should, however, the privies now inado not quite answer, a very small exper.se will make them into well covered necessaries, and the wards will the cortainly be sweet, clean and healthy. It would have been bighly desirable it the back grounds in which the Insanes exercise and work in the garıdra. had been larger, and if the Dog Kennel ground which joins our premise. 10 the south, and which has laiely been broken up can be added to the grounds of the Hospital, it will prove a great olvantage to health by giving the inmates more scope for gardening and agricultural pursuits, which pursuits I have found highly amusing to convalescent Insanes, and greatly to assist other curative means. The ground is lying useless, and I am tuld belongs to Government, por woulii it be necessary to wall it in, usilic Insanes tileinselves can surround it with ·9 - third attempt at escape happened only a few days ago, in which two hours at least were expended in extricating an insane who had wedged himself tightly in one of the said privies, when we had first to remove the thick pucka work, and then to remove the iron nails from the metal tube, which was brought up with the man in it; he narrowly escaped with his life, but I am glad to say he is now doing well. Some time ago, a female escaped by climbing a tree and got over into the next compouud where she was secured, but on Saturday last a Hindoo man climbed very high up the tree in the left compound, on being observed he jumped down, and has been in so precarious a state that I have strongly advised the removal of the trees. You yourself had apprehensions of the insanes hanging themselves on the branches of this tree, but I think this was simply an attempt to escape. I humbly submit that trees should never be allowed within buildings intended for the security of Insanes--and as regards such privies as I have been depricating, I beg to venture an opinion that such ought never to be constructed in any public building. In my official letters I have represented the stench which the Physician General has witnessed with me in this new Asylum as being dreadful, and sinilar to that which existed in the old Insane Hospital previous to the adoption of the well covered privies which I suggested twenty years ago, (in 1828) in the old Asylum. In that year, (as will be seen in my Insane the aloe plant as they have surrounded the large ground in the old Insane Asylum, and the aloc fence in 3 or 4 years will be as secure as any wall. This will be the more desirable, as the grounds to the new llospital are so much smaller than those the patients have been used to, and it would appear to involve no expence. I have for many years made stutistical enquiry into the ratio of iuortality annong diffurent orders of the population, and cetablishments in the Presidency, for general statistical purposes, aul for comparison with the classes under my medical charge, and I may perhaps with propriety annex three copies of tables, I printed some time ago, in order to show the great mortality every where among Iusanes, as compared with any other class of patients, as well as to point out conspicuously the advantage of feeding prisoners sufficiently in a damp country like Bengal. I might give a detail of the kind of food that is allowed to our Insanes, but it is so very much like the morning and evening real of the prisoners inserted in the table, that it is hardly vecessary I should, the chief difference being that the Insanes have daily fish and meat in the evening with rather less rice and dâl, but then they have paun and betelnut after each meal; the least encouragement induces Insanes to work promptly, one peon has charge of eight Insanes, and there is one Naib pcon to every 30 Insanes, one bhistee to 40, a dhoobee, and a barber to every 50 men, and a mehter to every 20, A Native doctor is always on the spot, and they are fed, clothed and lighted by contruct at the cost of 3 rupees ahead. 3 P ·10 Report, and as is alluded to in the 2d Report of the Municipal Committee, page 60,) I stated the mortality to have been considerably diminished during the 6 months then under consideration, it having become less than at any time for the previous twelve years,—and I attributed the advantage to such covered necessaries. I went on to report that there had been much less illness than usual, which I also attributed to the same improvement. There has been considerable illness and mortality in our new Asylum, and I cannot get rid of the opinion that the stench and bad air produced by the present necessaries have had much to do with such result, although it must be admitted that the length of time consumed in the erection of the new Asylum (keeping the insanes in the old dilapiolated onen)* greatly impoverished their constitutions, and they were consequently brought in a deplorably weak state nto the Asylumn they now inhabit. I have no doubt but that the plan of covered well recessaries, now about to be adoptel, will renler the whole building sweet, clean, and healthy. Cook. ing roons for the servants, as recommended by the Physician Cieneral, are about to be crected ontside the Asylum, and then I believe every thing will have been accomplished that may be decinel generally conducive to salubrity. Some further remarks with reference to the printed talles apprar juroper. Up to the year 1836, the sick return of the life and * See extract from my Report for the years 1841 and 1842, annexed. Report 1841.-"In diy last year's return, I made the following remarks : “ Both this and last year, there has been a considerable increase in the * number of Insanes, as will be seen by the table of 25 years annexed. “ The Asylum after long correspondence las been white washed, but the “ drains, and the well necessaries, are not put in order, the reason I trust " is that Government are about to crect a new building. I annex a letter “ to the Civil Engineer upon this subject. And am of opinion that the ground behind the Suilder Nizamut Adawlut, although at present " rather low, and its surfac irregular, yet if levelled and raised a little, " would be an excellent site for a new Hospital." Report 1842.-"1 beg, now to observe that the filthy state of the “ Insane llospital and insuficiency of the repairs, bas in my opinion " within the last two years prevented ny keeping down the number of “ Insanes so low, as I hai been able to do for the previous 20 years, they " have cunsequently been more crowded, and from the defaced, and “ broken condition of the ground floors, (which I have constantly pointed “out since the year 1832,) it has been impossible to keep the wards and 6 veranciuhs sweet and clean; these circumstances have united to "prevent the recovery of wany, who I concientiously believe would # have otherwise becn recovered and restored to their friends, that is, " under more cleanly and advantageous circumstances, and it will be seen that the yearly expence of Government has likewise increased."

·11 temporary prisoners was made in one report, but it is ascertained that for the last 20 years, as I have before observed, the mortality among the Allipore life prisoners has not been very much more than 5 per cent. per annum, wlich makes the mortality among the zillah prisoners approximate to that of the 19 neighbouring zillahs, for up to the period of the present improved rations, it must have been abont 7 per cent. or more, which, considering they were younger and temporary is an extraordinary mortality over our life prisoners, who, the Prison Discipline Comunittee pronounce to be peculiarly healthy, and yet onr zillah inortality does not exceed the average of the 19 zillah stations around us, which, in calculations, of numerous years, and different years, average npwards of per cent. per annum; I hope, however, it will Le found that, for the last four years (during which time they have all enjoyed 2 cooked rations daily) their mortality has been equally reduced with the 24- Pergunnahs' zillah prisoners under my charge. In the six years 1833 to 1838 inclusive, the gencral mortality in the Bengal alljoining districts was found to be 8.38 per cent. per annum, another calculation of eleven years begining 1833 to 43 inclusive, it is 8.44 per cent. Mr. Ilutchinson's work, page 105, makes the average for four years 8.33, and in page 215 he makes the mortality in the Liwer Provinces, including the Dinapore Division, as inuch as 9.28 per cent. for the year 1843, the last year before the prosent improved system. These facts I alluded to in my last report, in which I mentioned that the necessaries in the zilial jail were still very deficient, and that Dr. Panton's improvedl ventilation had not been adopted. It is to be considered that we have four other jails in the suburbs, which althongh, formerly, dreadfully unhealthy, have within the last four years been, as I predicted, reculiarly healthy even more so than those of the zillah Russah jail, as will be seen Ly the lower line marked in the alıstract table for illustration. It speaks forcibly in favor of the late rations, and every one of the inınates are men working on the roads, perhaps the healthiest work for prisoners, if well fed. Among the entire zillah prisoners the last four columns representing the four periods for the last four years, shew less sickness, as well as less niortality, than even the improved state of the prisopers in the Russah zillah jail containing men of various kinds, but who do not partuke of any animal foud, with the exception of a few working prisoners. In the former printed table I had not given the lower line shewing the detail of the entire zillah prisoners, lest it should have confused the zillah jail detail, which was given on a plan advised long ago by the Medical Board.

·12 My atlention was, I confess, first drawn particularly to this important sulject, by the scrutinizing circular (No. 598,) of the Medical Bourd, Decenber 1833, on the extraordinary mortality of prizoners as compared with sepoys. To G. LAMB, Esq., Inspector Grni. of Hospitals, Presy. Divn. 31st Juntury 1818. I have, &c., F. P. STBONG, Surgeon, 24-Purgunnahs. . ........ 1 ................ .............. ...................... .................... • .............. ........................ 3 ..................... ..................... 11 TARLE A. Sickness and Mortality of the Allipore Juil (at the Presidency) containing Prisoners for life who are allowed 4 pice per diem for fooil. They work within the wulls of the jail. 1837,... Areta daily number of Prisoners, 1,201 sick per cent. per diem, 3.36 death per cent, per annum, 4.57 1838,... number of Prisoners, 1,320 sick per cent. per diem, 3.28 derti per cent. per anuum,..... 5.37 1839.... number of Prisoners, 1,417 sick per cent. per diem, 3.70 dcatli per cent. per annum, 5.50 1840,... number of Prisoners, 1,507 wick per cent. per diem, 4.67 death per cent. per annum, .................* 5.37 1841,... number of Prisoners, 1,425 sik Ter cent. per diem, 5.06 death per cent. per annum,.. 4.98 1842,... number of Prisoners, 1,446 sick per cent. per diem, 4.95 death per cent. per annum, 8.57 1843.... number of Prisoners, 1,357 sick per cent. per diem, 7.06 death per cent. per annum, ................... 9.80 1844,... nuinber of Prisoners, 1,275 sick per cent. per diem, G.02 death per cent. per annulu,.................. 5.72 1845,... number of Prisoners, 1,192 sick per cent. per diem, 5.93 deatb per cent. per annuni,.. 4.19 1816,... nurnber of Prisoners, 1,164 sick per cent. per dienu, 6.24 death per cent. per annum, 4.12 1847,... number of Prisoners, 1,066 sick per cent per diem, 6.35 death per cent. per annum, 4.03 For ten years, sick 5.01 per diem. For ten years, mortulity 5.60 per cent. per annum. For ten years, proorous to 1837 the mortality was 6.2 ..................... ...... ........ .................... ..................... 99 ................... 19 ........................ ..................... .............. .. cent. per 17 ·13 TABLE B. Return shewing the number of Convicts confined in the Russa Jail, and in the different Suburb Jails, also the Up-Country, and Bengal Prisoners, working on the roads, their sickness and mortality, from the commencement of the Ration System. First, 15 Months, from May 1838 to July 1839. Ration system commenced instead of three pice. (Insufficient ration.) Average in different jails 805 daily, Sick рег diem 10 per cent. Deaths per cent. per annum 7.95. Second, 26 Months, from August 1839 10 September 184). Mr. Biscoe's improved ration, animal food every other day. Average in different Juils, 665 daily. Sick per diem or 7.69 per cent. Deaths per cent. pcr annuni 4.30. Third, 15 Months, from October 1841 to December 1842. Return to the former ration. (Insufficient.) Average in different Jails, 737 daily. Sick per diem, or 10.26 jrer cent. Deaths per ceut. per annum 9.44. Fourth, 12 Months, for 1843. Ration with trifling improvement. But insufficient.) Average in different Jails, 850 duily. Sick per diem, 10.0 per cent. Deaths per cent. per annum 7.71. Fifth, 12 Months, for 1844. Present good ration, see Diet Table. Average in different Jails, 903 daily. Sick per diem, 8.89 per cent. Deaths per cent. per annum 5.65. Sixth, 12 Months, for 1845. Present good ration. Average in different Jails, 816 daily. Sick per diem, 8.13 per cent. Deaths per vent. per annun 4.76. Seventh, 12 Months, for 1846. Present good ration Average in different Jails, 699 daily, Sick per diem, or 8.56 per cent. Deaths per cent. per annum 3.16. Eighth, 12 Months, for 1847. Present good ration. Average in different Jails, 673 daily. Sick per diem, or 6.35 per cent. Deaths per cent. per annum, 3.91.

·DIET TABLE.-Exhibiting the quantity and noriety of Food, which are necessary in the opinion of the Medical Board for the Preservation of the health of Labouring and Non-Labouring Couricts in Jail Non-LasouRING CONVICTE. Morning Meal. Evening Veal. Diera. Grand to- Food. Oz. Oz. Oz. Oz. Oz. Oz, Oz. Oz. Oz. Oz. 12 4 Oz. Oz. Oz. Oz. Oz. 10 2 Same Daily, * ... nything } 131 $ 33 14 WOBRING COrvicTS. Morning Meal. Evening Meal. Vegetables. Flesh. Oz. Oz. Oz. Monday,t. Tuesday, Oz. Oz. Oz. Oz 10 10 4 Oz. 15 15 1 Oz | Oz.Oz. Oz.Oz. 16 4 8 18 6 Oz. 293 291 Oz. 45 45 1. Every day the above quantity the same. | The above change on alternate days of the week except on Sundays. when the Labouring Convicts will receive the same as the Non-Labouring Convicts. Up-Country prisoners shuuld be allowed Wheat Flour instead of Rice. A small quantity of Tobaco should be allowed. One and half Seer of Fire-wood should the cooks require it.

·TABLE C. ABSTRACT OF VOLUMINOI'S FIGURED TABLES. Table showing the Sickness and Mortality, first, of the Zillah Jail of the 24-Pergunnahs and in the bottom line that of all the four Suburb Jails including the Zillah Juil, beginning from May 1838, the commencement of the Ration System. TT First 15 Second 26 Third 15 Fourth 12 Fifth 12 Daily average Sickness in Sixth 12 Seventh 12 Eighth 12 Months. Months. Months. Months. Months. Months. Months. Nonths. Hospital. Bad food. Good food. Bad fuocl. Bad food. Good food. Good food. Good food. Good food. 10 5% 64 365 11 11 8 32} 11,1 735 30 ......... 11 1615 17 191 141 5 با بياموار لمعاهم ترط ............... 0 il ........ 13} 19 46 153 10 فيما بعد بندہ Jabouring, .......... one in Non-Labouring, ditto Hindoos, ditto Mussulmans, ditto Untried, ditto Debtors, ditto Females, ditto Total, in Zillah Jail one to... All the Convicts of 4 Şuburb Jails and Zillah Jail, 53 11 56 6 11} 205 77% 9 335 74 ................ 58 21 69 8 .. 5 5$ .............. 113 19 115 16 54 5% 64 18 13 10 111 111 12 163 15 Mortality, per Cent. per anuum. First 15 Second 26 Third 15 Months. Months. Months. Bad* food. Good food. Bad food. Fourth 12 Months. Bad food. Fiflh 12 Sixth 12 Seventh 12 Eighth 12 Months. Months. Months. Months. Good food. Good food. Good food. Good food. ................. 5.44 0.0 3.18 4.94 0. 0 3.57 1.93 ............... ....................... . Labouring, 9.23 4.71 11.17 9.56 6.44 7.62 4.68 Non-Labouring, 0.0 0.30 0.0 2.73 5.06 6.41 0 0 Hindoos, 6.40 3.81 10.15 8.08 7.09 8.56 5.74 Mussulmans, 0 2.41 7.09 8 0 4.31 2.56 0.70 Untried, 26.27 8.39 48 8.45 3.33 6.46 1.85 Debtors, 0.89 2.46 4. 0 1.95 5.88 6.82 2.90 Females, 0.0 2.67 4. 0 2.51 5.13 9.30 0.0 Total, in Zillab Jail, 5.42 3.25 7.84 8.07 6.22 6.28 4.53 All the Convicts of 4 Şuburb Jails and Zillah Jail, 7.95 4.30 9.44 7.71 5.65 4.76 3.16 * I use the terms bad and good food deferentially, and to express nay, professional opinion. I appeal to results. .................... ................... 3.81 ........ 3.91 ·16 8 ...... - ...IN .. ... ... I. .. .. 200 . ... .. ... ... ... ... .. ... ..... ... ... ... ......... ........ ... ... . . ........ ... TABLE D. Comparative Table of Mortality under different systems of Dieling the temporary Prisoners of the Zillak Jail, 24-Purgunnahs and four minor Jails in Suburbs of Calcutta. Commencement of Contractors 3 pice Ration the beginning of the year 1838, consisting of Rice ! (10 chattacks), pulse (dal 3 oz., Oil | Oz., Salt oz. Tobacco oz. in one meal at sunset. This with a handful of parched pulse and rice called “juljrun," at luncheon time, is all the food they got ia 24 hours. No. of Prisoners. Deaths. 1838 May, But for May, June, and July some 826 fish, ghee, spices and vegetables were June, added and in suitable quantity, with 894 5 July, the effect of allaying the complaints 900 and tumult among the prisoners August, And in August given up and the in- 849 September, suficient Ration again given. 875 October, 806 6 November, 793 6 December, 789 10 1839 January,...... 866 6 February, 893 7 March, 792 2 April, 721 3 May, 733 6 June, 642 9 July, ... 673 3 Mr Strong's Ration adopted for 26 months, viz. from August 1839 to September 1841 inclusive; vide next table. 1841 October, Inaufficient Ration again ordered by 713 5 November, Government 715 4 December, 713 6 January, 793 9 February, 711 Marcb, 709 6 April, 733 6 Мау, 811 6 June, 801 July, 714 4 Augustin 7:28 1 Septeinber,... 719 3 October, 724 10 November, 735 9 December, 741 9 1843 Junuary, 699 10 February, 788 Murch, 811 3 April, 790 May, 860 June, 919 July, 842 August, 879 6 September,... 831 October, ....... 829 6 November, 778 4 December, Making a total of 42 months, . I 6. .. ... .. .. ... ... ... ........ ... ... .. .. ......... ... II. ... ... 3 ... ... ... ..... II. . II. ... ... . ..C ... A. .. . ... to. ..... ... ... ...... ... . .. ........ .. .. ... ........ ... ... .. ... ... ........ ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 779 ... 32937 320 Doath per Cont. per annum under the Ratios objeotod to, 8.38 ·17 Table shewing the great lesåpning of mortality by the adoption of adequate and nutritious food among the same prisoners. Mr. Strong's Ration, as follows, was given in one meal; he not haviny as yet obtained permission to give it in two, as has been since sanctioned. Rice daily 1 lb., vegetables ditto 4 07., spices ditto 02., Salt ditto oz., Tobucco ditto oz. Every other day, pulse (ual) 8 oz., alternate days Fish or Meat 8 oz.; Ghee 1 oz. every other day with oil 1 oz. on the alternate days. Actual cust 4 pice. No. of Prisoners. Deaths. . 1 8 3 ... • ... ..... 1839 August, Mr. Strong's good Ration in oue meal, September,... .. October, November, ... December, 1810 January,.... February, March, April, I. 2 3 2 0 ... IRO ..... . ... . . 100 ... May, ....... ... .90 ... 5 0 3 3 0 ......... 713 429 703 698 581 591 613 591 617 694 676 683 643 589 513 535 587 699 697 652 792 697 786 796 713 719 .. .... . . 1.. 1 3 ... June, July, August Septeniber, ... October, November, December, 1811 January,... February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September,... Total 26 months, ... . .. .. ..... ... ... 4 3 2 3 ... ... .. .ee ... ... 1 ... ... ܢ ... .. 1 3 . ... The present 2 meal per day Ration comnicnced, similar to the above, bet Diet table, ... ... 7 1 10 8 4 2 ... ... . .11.II.I. . .. 1. . ... 10 ... ... 1844 Janvary, February, .. March,.... April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, ... 798 851 801 1056 951 982 982 878 865 896 915 852 ... 1 00 ..... ... ... ... 4 3 5 . . ...

·18 ... ... .. ... .... ... II ... ... .. ... . ... ... . .. ... ... .. .R. ........ ... ... . .RO . ... ...... ... ... 01. U.. D. .. ... ... .. ... ... P. I. ... ......... ... ... . ........ No. of I'risuncrs. Deaths. 821 4 900 4 834 8 832 1 877 3 894 911 887 950 954 857 839 836 743 716 732 758 757 759 759 0 768 766 763 751 3 727 730 753 743 740 1 710 2 721 723 716 667 665 686 ... ... 1945 January, February, Marcb,........... April, May, June, July, August, September,.. October, November, Decciaber, 1846 January,...... February, March, April, Muy, June, July, August, September,... Octoher, November, December, 1817 January,...... February, March, April, Мау, Jung, July, August, September,... October, Nuvchibcr, December, ......... 1 II. .. ... ...... R.. P. ... ... ... .. ... ... ] .. .. .. .. .. more 1... ... ......... ... ... ... ......... ... ... ... ........ .. ... ... ... ... . ... . ... ... AO. ... ... . ... ... ... 56405 207 Death por Cent. por Annum ander the improvod Ration, £.40

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·21 TABLE H. Table shewing the advantage of Exercise to Insane Patients, and the number of cures and discharges produced thereby, as also the saving crecimo tin the Bengal Presidency Native Insane Hospital, at Russa, in the 24-Pergunnah during 27 years, commencing 1821. No. 1. Number of Patients at the end of each year. Number of Admissions. Annual Expense. .................... 112 ! ....... VOR.. ............ Tulai,... 610 10616 4 II...IO Ycare. Comparative Statement of Expense. It appcars, from the above Statement, that for the 3 years ending 1820, 853 Insane Patients cost Government,.. Rs. 77472 This for the next 27 years ensuing would, at 1816 186 122 18103'the same rate, amount to Patients 4606, and 1817 i 170 115 , 17346' cost to Government, ........ 418331 1818 168 85 15929 Whercas, it will appear that during the lat- 1819 153 60 12,24 'ter period, with increased admissions, to the 1920 174 109 tients actually maintained was only 3744, and Toial... 353 511, 77472' the cost to Government, 236888 18:21 155 99 11912 Saving....... ................... 862 181448 1822 135 108 10684 1823 887530 Note.--This Saving consisted as follows: 184 102 127 79:35 In regulating the Contract Systı'nı and Ma. 1825 106 94 6929 nagenient, 103159 In the decrease of Patients by retaining only 516 44990 bad Cases, and disposing of the manageable ones among relatives, connections, &c., 78289 1826 105 99 7172 1827 100 7478 Saving, 181448 1828 109 132 8180 1829 149 134 8435 Or, No. 2. 1830 143 129 8643 If the Hospital receive full credit for its proper selection of Patients, and the Saving thence Total,... 615 594 39808 be made to rest on the adauissions alone between the two periods, it will be still more; as follows: 1831 120 143 8734 511 Admissions during the first 5 years, 1832 121 116 7042 having cost Rs. 77472 the 3635 admissions 1833 12: 158 8064 Juring the last 27 years, would, at this rate, cost, 5510971 1834 125 146 8011 Deduct actual cost, $86883 1835 137 126 7586 Saring, ..............................nadine 81424 Total,... 624 689 39437 No. 3. 1836 116 144 7929 The average annual expense of the 5 years 1837 144 116 8057 / ending in 1820, amounted tu, .......... 1540 1898 133 132 8554 And for the 27 years ending in 1847 to ... 877 1839 133 130 8183 1840 150 125 6902 Annual Saving, .................... 6721 Ditto for 27 years, ................ 18144 676 647 41625 109 1.14.III.... Total,...

·22 Tuble sbearing the advantage of Exercise to Insane Patients, &c.—Continued. Years. Vumber of 1:1 tients at the enil! of each year. Number of Admissions. Annual Expense. 1024 ........... .................. &.. ....... .. 1841 1:9 130 9354 1842 159 1.34 9641 1843 155 136 9502 To show that this diccrense of expenditure did 1814 163 132 9738 not arise from a smaller number of admissions, 1845 180 178 10063 the average of t!le 3 years ending in 1820 rvas 1846 201 218 10943 And for the 27 years ending in 1847, 134 1847 202 261 11782 Muking an annual increase for the last :27 Totul,... 1219 1189 71023 years of 327 Total While the average number for the first 5 for 27 3744 3635 236883 years in the Hospital was ... yours, And for the last 27 years it has been only,... 1381 NOTE.-By Nos. 1 and 3. the Saving is, . Rs. 181448 By No. 2 the Saving would be, 31421.4 The employment and amusement of the convalescent Insones have been various. When the floors luvame so damp, from aures that the lusanes could not liv upon them, they conjstrwted raised platformy cor nutrhuns of bamboo for beds, themselves. Singing, dancing, Kraus, (100 gambling) the drum, fute, &c. have been encouraged. Some women have spil. Make bave made cluth, prickell coffee, rice, &c and the Insane men who exercise in bahis open air lave, for inany years, been constantly sowing, transplanting, and rearing Calling a quantity of which wis packed up and sent by the Ship Warrior 10 the Ilonorable that of Directors in 1832, und sonic to the Risyal Asiatic Society, and wils liighly Approved by the London Brokers. Every description of Gardening has been alopted by Bloemeslling to work, and this activity has becii, I really believe, the chict means of Kung and discharging iany. Wu Lord William Bentinck, at ny suggestion, procured American Cotton Seed bor liial in this country, the Sca luland ani Upland Gicorgia Plants were grown liy them, "oul these Insanes were among the first to produce this Cotton. lurge quantities of the Otaheite Sugar Cane have been produced by their labour, mnd thus, as well as the Cotton, and Coffee, I have sent from the Insune Iospital ar:1ev to various parts of India. They have cxtensively reared the ('actus Plant, and producret the Inseci (Cochinen!), which with the Coffee, &c., has been highly approved the India Agricultural Society, and their opinions published in their Transilctions. they have stickC08sfully grown the Spanish Arnato, the Sapan Wood of commerce, the Hubery I lants and the Cassides, which produrcs Tapioca, since becoine an article of and rec lurr, and latterly tıey have cultivated the Aloe, and froin the fibre of this art, Rope of extraordinary strength has been made.

·23 TABLE E. Comparative Table of Mortality among Insane Patients, wherever it can be ascertained. The Editor of the Lancet states, page 223 for 1838-9, that "Insanity is one of the most fatal diseases to which the human race is liable. This result is not deduced from the experience of a few Asylums, but from nearly all the observations on record, whether made in England, Scotland, France or America." Cases No. Treated. Died. Deaths per Cent. 18185 4793 26.35 It is now asrertained (1842) that in Wales, there are 1000 Insanes, but there is no Insane Asylum in the whole country. England Scotlanıl, France and America, Cork Lunatic Asylum, 1834.8, Ten Distinct Asylums, 1837, Clarenton, Paris, Lancaster, 11:nwell, for 5 years, Sunavra, Italy, English Country Asylums, 750 221 29. O 788 165 1557 1750 546 ........ 577 UR..... ........ 21.0 35. 6 32.97 27. 5 42.50 28. O p. 143, 1..... ..... .... . 11. Irish Asylums, 28. 0 .......... ..... ...... 41......... ..... . . . 20. O 24.0 30. 0 1.1... ..... ty Statistics of English Lunatic Asylumns. Sherwood Lunatic Asylum, l'arliumentary Returns. Ditto do., Lancet, page 234. Lancet, 1838-9, p. 349. Pritchard, Lancet, 1838-9, p. 412. Lancet, 1836-7, p. 544. Lancet, 1838-9, p. 233. Lunatic.Isylums Ireland, Par Jiamentary Returns, 2711 April, 1838. Lancet, 1836-7, p. 544. Lancet, 1036-7, p. 544. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. See Russia and the Russian 2 p. 314. Münsr. Esquirol's Table ar Report. Lancet, 1838-9, p. 235. See Dr. Copeland's Diction ry on Insanity, p. 494, 18+ Dr. Conolly's Report for 18- Presidency Native Iusa Asylum. .... 22. O 1...10 ..... ... ........... 24. 5 25. O 130 24 York Retreat, Wakefield, C'ork, French Hospitals in Gience ral, Lancaster, Clarenton, Petersburg, (1 year, 1835,) Paris, Saltpetriere, (10 years)..... St Luke's and Bethlem, (Males), London Middlesex Lunatic Asylum, (10 years ending in 1840),...... Calcutta, (10 years, 1833-1812,) Calcutta, 5 years,1843-1847, 18.46 2804 790 28.10 4417 774 17. 0 ... 2029 656 32.33 ......... 2685 454 16.90 ...... 1826 316 17.30 At Bethlen and St. Luke's Lunatics are generally kept twelve nunths only, and the in a dangerous state are not admitted: when dangerous symptoms supervene they discharged forthwith, and hurried out of the precincts of the Hospital, lest bigh mor lity should bring the establishment into bad odour. N. B. - At the Calcutta Asylum, there can be no reservation of this dature, ca: however desperate, must be admitted, and of coursc this will tell against the per centa ·24 TABLE M. Mortality among all Classes in Calcutta, as far as ascertainable, for 31 years. 5 Years. I'rotestant. Presbyterian. Catholic Burials D'Rozario. Catholic Burials Boitakhanab. Greeks. Total. Indo-Armenians. Native Christians. Armenians. Mahomedans. | Hindoos. General Average ex; cluding Greeks and Native Christians of whom there is no Census. Scotch Cemetry not formed. No returns. 711 665 743 717 714 776 715 No returns. No returns. 174 184 21 1817 216 S18 272 18!! :275 3820 281 1821 246 1872 324 1423 270 1824 278 1923 297 1826 75 IK:17 234 11 18:28 276 19 1829 1830 24 | 26 1831 Zoti | 29 1832 217 26 18.33 30 18:34 | 283 35 182 | 233 18 1836 19726 1837 190 / 31 1638 209 38 183, 182 36 1840 20570 ]n31 i 314 , 57 1871 341 80 1843 277 ( 64 1844 1:344 45 1845 365 ) 42 1846 : 371 87 1847 202 813 1694 10 211 169 2 20 284 158 0 23 282 1360 17 277 1720 16 294 140016 2 277 156 0 0 282 1880 21 285 154 1 12 10 809 145 2 19 17 308 15 16 250 1702 15 12 209 1 46 3 12 16 2 286 138 1 14 150 236 122 3 17 19 269 121 | 1! 17 16 11 1009 8291 288 204 2 23 14 3 2385 15138 257 1992 16 174' 1900 11167 239 115 17 16 4 1229 6873 188 104 10 15 13 3 1515 6366 261 102 23 7 1367 7097 266 123 15 1514 9802 236 74 16 9 1405 ! 6570 191 97 14 13 2703 9027 249 137 25 22 3588 8667 249 118 22 18 4156 9955 201 | 102 19 14 3365 7381 334 125 Z: 18 19 z 501310580 229 26 | 19 4148 9038 273 107 19 12 4583 9100 225 64 | 16 8 8782 7620 750 758 765 778 722 588 6533 609 9973 18384 13872 8724 8424 9078 11976 8527 12377 13059 14943 11423 16508 18970 14552 12022 cent, per annum excluding Natives of whom there were no returns. All classes for 16 years at 5.69 per Average for 15 years at 6 per cent. per annum. ! 302 No returns. No returns. 103 hitale... 8189,880 8,001 | 4,2.2.4 528 354 13,642 1,42,680 2,08,490 by cont. per 371 11.80 4.47 4.57 5.66 ·Abstract of the Rates per cent. of Mortality in Calcutta. ' CHRISTIANS. NATIVES GENERAL MORTALITY PER CENT. Protestants. Catholics, Armenins. Mahomedans. Hindoos Christians. Natives. All Classes. Ist Period of 15 years, when there were no Returns of Native Mortality, 3.33 12.73 3.77 6.0 25 .......................... j2d Period of 16 years, embracing all Classes except Greeks and Native Christians of whom there is no Census, 4.6 10.93 5,13 4.57 5.66 6.5 5.36 5.69 ....... 3.71 11.80 4.47 General AveragС....... 4.37 5.66 6.3 5.36 5.69 Population of Caicuttu (ccording to last Census. 7,884 3,341 6,36 59,622 1,57,418 11,861 2,14040 2,28,901

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·Analysis of the Report of Surgeon F. P. Strug, of the Bengal Army, to the Bengal Gonernment for 1847, of the Mortality in the Juils of the 24-Pergunnahs, Calcutlu. Bv LikitinANT COLONEL W. H. SYKES, V.P.R.S. [Read before the Statistical Society of London, 20th November, 1848.] Dr. STBONG has been good enough to transmit to me recently his Official Report for 1847 to the Bengal Government of the Sickness nnil Mortality in the Jails of the 24-Pergunnabs. Dr Strong bas had medical charge of these jails for many years, and bas distinguirbed himself by the benevolent perseverance with which he has experimented in various ways to improve the health of the prisoners in his charge, and dininish the high rate of mortality that appears generally los result from confinement in the jails in India. Ventilation, exercise, Occupation, and dict, have engaged Inis altention, but particularly the lutter, and in having effected an improvement in the diet, hy an increase of animal food and condiments, Dr. Strong attributes a decidedly diminished annual mortality among tie zorisoners. Dr. Strong's report comprises tien pireers in the Alipore Jail, who are confined for life, and whose annuai svetanumber, from 1836 to 1847 inclusivt, ranged from 1,006 to 1,507, and the average for the whole period was 1,901; it comprises also the temporary prisoners in the Zillate jails varying from 011 to 902, the average for the period being 769 ; and, finally, the Insave Hospital patients, for the same period, varying from 18 in 1816, to 202 in 1847, in 1824 the number iming as low as 102. Dr. Strong supplies figured statements from official records, of the sickness and mortality in the several jails under the old and new diet systems, and in the Insane Hospital ; but, as my object is rathus to call the attention of the Society to a remarkable cholera return tur thirty-one years than to discuss the general mortality in jails in Iodin, it will suifice to mention that in all the jails under Dr. Strung, fur lilie tirst sixteen years, from 1820 to 1836, the mortality was per cent. per annum, and for the last eleven years, from 1836 to 1847, the mortality was reduced to 5:57 per cent. per unnum, the mortality of the native inhabitants of Calcutta, being, in the last period, 4-64 per cent., the greatest portulity in the jails, as in Calcutta, being in the coldest inonths. To show the effect of improved rationis, of two meals per diem instead of one, Dr. Strong adduces the prisoners contined for life in the Allipore Jail, who never leave the precincts of the jail, as contrasted with tbe prisoners in the other jails, who had only one wcal per diem until latterly, when the mortality with them was also reduced t Dearly the same amount as in the Allipore Jail. The annual deaths, inlusive of those from cholem, in the Allipore Jail, from 1836 to 1847, both years inclusive, varied from 2.99 per cent to 9.80 per cent., the average beiug 5-60 per cent. In the other four suburban and Zillah jails the annual per centage ruortality varied, as the diet was changed, from bad to indifferent and good. From 1836 to 1847 inclusive, Dr. Strong gives eight periods in which he shows that in the first period, wiib insufficient diet, the mortality was 7.95 ; in the second period of 26 months, with a good diet, the nortality was reduced to +30 per cent; for two periods of 15 and 12 months, the former diet was restored, and the mortality rose respectively to 9 44 and 771 per cent., 29 per ·2 MORTALITY IN THE JAILS OF THE 24-PERGUNNAHK, CALCUTTA. 1 cont of the larger anıount however, being attributable to cholera, in 1842. For the next four periods, the good diet of the daily rations was restored and the inortality Tell respectively to 5.65, 4.76, 3.16, and 3 91 per cent. The average of deaths in the Lunatic Asylum for ten years, from 1833 10 1812, was 16:9 per cent, and for five years, from 1843 to 1847, itie mortality was 17.3 per cent. which Dr. Strong sbows from tables that he lotis to be inlinitely less than in the asylums in Europe. At Sunavra, in undy, ihe deaths are represented as 42:5 per cent. ; ut Paris, 35.6 per cent. ; and at t'u asylums, in 1837, in England, 2) per cent. Di. Strong gives a table showing the advantage of exercise and ainusement to lunatic patients, and says "The employinent and amusenent on the convalescent insanes are various. When the floors became so ampfrom age that they could not lie upon them, they constructed raised Turforing of bamboo for beris themselves. Singing, dancing, cards (not 2:ambling), the drum, fife, &c, are encouraged ; some women skin, somo make cluth, pick cofree, rice, &c, and the insane men who exercise in the open air, lave, for many years, heen constantly engaged in sowing, transpiinting, and rearing.coffee, a quant of which was packed up and sent, liv the sbip Warrior," to the Hon Court of Directors, in 1832, and sme to the Royal Asiatic Society, and was highly approved by the London brukes." Every description of gardening has been adopted by those willing to work, and this activity has been, Dr Strong thinks, the chief means of curing and discharging many. When the American cotton seed was introduced, the insanes were amongst the first to raise the plants ; large quantities of (tabeite sugar-cane have been produced by their labour, and cutsings of the cane, cotton, and coffee plants have been sent to various parts of India from the garden of the Insane Hospital. The cactus plant has been extensively reareil, and the cochineal insect produced. The Spanisl arnuto the Sapan Wood of Commerce, mulberry plants, and the cassuda which produces tapioca, have all been cultivated ; and latterly the alve, from the ubre of which rope of great strength bas been made. I mention these facts to show that the celebrated Hunwell Asylum system had a prototype in Indir. The second return of Asiatic cholera to our shores, after an absence of sintren years, gives considerable interest to the most complete table of cholera statistics for 31 years, from 1817, the date of its first record in Calcutta, to 1847 inclusive, that has hitherto been compiled. I say the date of lie first record, because there can be little doubt, although its ravages were not systematically recorded before, that it was nothing less than the cholera that ravaged the Mahratta army under Hurree Punt, on the Trongboodra River, in 17:36* ; and it is equally a matter of certainty, that Sir Edward Hughes's squadron suffered from the malady when off Ceylon in 1782 ; and Arungzebe's army also, at the siege of Bijepoor, in 1657 suffered from it. Indeed, Dr. Allan Webb, Professor of Descriptive and Surgical Anatomy, the Calcutta Medical College, in a second edition of his " Pathologia Indica," published in the present year, quotes passages from Hippocratcs, Whang-shoo-ho, his contemporary in China, and Susrutu, the greatest Hindoo medical authority, to show that the disease called Asiatic cholera was known in the earliest times of Greece, China, • Hurrec Punt, in his own lund, writes, “ The logs sustained by the Army in consequence of the Cholera Morbus is very great. Medicines are liberally supplied ; stime do recover, but by far the greater part dic."--Grant Duff's History of the Mabratias, vol. ii., p. 17.

·MORTALITY IN THE JAILS OF THE 24-PERGUNNAHS, CALCUTTA. 3 . and India. It matters not much whetber it be of ancient or modern date, beyond the assurance involved in the fact of its antiquity, that neither its supposed frightful ravages, nur the other pestilences io which man is subject, have prevented the gradual spread of his race all over the earth ; genera of gigantic and wonderful animuls have been created and disappear. ed, but war, and famine, and plague oppose their barriers in vain to the sleady increase of the human race. Dr. Strong's remarkable table contains, not only instructive facts for the professional man, but consolatury assurances that ought to alleviate the usual panic that pervalles all classes of society into which the cholera unbuppily intrudes. I have shown, in a paper published in the Journal of the Statistical Society, upon the Vital Statisiicy of the East India Company's Arinies in India, for 20 years, both European and Native, that the deaths to the strength from cbolera amongst Europeans in Bengal, was 1.15 per cent. of the strength, and for one year (1843) only in that period, it attained a maximum rate of 2 13 per cent. ; amongst the native troops in Bengal, the average for 20 years wus 0·22 per cent., once only in 1843, Laving attained nearly a third per cont. Amongst the Europeans in Madras the average mortalily was 0 42. per cent to the strengths, and a maximum rate of 1:379 per cent. occurre'l 1825,-in 1843 tbe rate was only 0 219 : angst the nativ troops the attraze niristality was 0 583 per cent., but a maximun rate occurred. as in Bantal, in 1843, of 1 385 per cent. Amongst the European troops in Bu, bay the average mortality lo strength fir 20 years, was 0:505 per cent. & inuximum rate iu 1912 per cent having occurred in 18+", pereding the fatal year of Bengal and Marlras ; the average mortality of the native troops of Bumbuy w 28 0 2x! per cittu, a maximum rate of 0:3,18 occurri". in 1842. The average arurtalıts of all the European troops of the Eas. India Company in all Jurlin fur 20 years was 0:724 per ril. of the strength, and of toe native troops 0:312 per veni. It is sati-tartory to find these results in close onformity to those of Dr. Strong's table, which are founde:l upon farts obtained under such favorable circum-iances for thei: atxurate acumulation ; having the parties within the four walls of prison, controlling their actions and their liet, and having daily recorils of their condition. I am not aware that für so lengthened a period a thirty-one consecutive years, any otber cholera return exists, similar to that of Dr. Strons, who had such unusual facilities for investigating the rightful disease in all its various phases. The return embraces the number of prisoners, the number of cholera sick, and the number of cirolera dentlig for eV-V mond of every year, from 1817 to 1847, bowl inclusive. The first string lenture of the table, is that there is not any one your of th whole win in which there was not chulera in the jails; and what is equally rendkilile, with exceptions to be mentioned, there was not any one M'nin iany year in which the cholera was not present among the prisoners l'he exceptions are, the month of January in the years 1840 and 1877; A;.r.l, 1840 and 1843 , June 1831 and 1845 ; September, 1891. 1871; inlober. 1841 and 1846 ; November, 184:3 and 1847; aud Deceber, 15 and 1871. The months of February, March, May, July, and siugust, were never free from cholera in any one year. The disease, therefore, took it: q.lace with the ordinary diseases to which man is subject in India at all times.mdysentery, ſevers, liver, spleen, and all the ills that flesh is heir to, and yet the average mortality froin cholera to the strength, for il veiles, was exactly one per cent. ; the average mortality frun all causb*, fur 27 years, being 7-11 per cent.

·1 4 MORTALITY IN THE JAILS OF THE 24.PERGUNNAHS, CALCUTTA. in the jails of the 24-P'ergunatıs, while the mortality in Caleutta, for the pune period, was 464 per cent. Here we have it inost important and consolatory fact; the discase, permanently located within the walls of prisons, under the most favorable circumstances for its development and spreard, from the constrained juxtaposition of parties, produced only 6,531 cases in 31 years to an annual average strength of 1.863, or about int per cont jas tiat, whcther the cholera be contagious or be not contagious, only one in me persons was suscepuble of taking the lisease, when constantly exposed to its influence, and only one-eleventh of those who took the disease died ; the average loys of those treated for 31 years, being 8.86 per cent. The next great feature of the table, is the effect of temperature upon the amount of cases, and upon the intensity of the mortality, and it is shown, that the mortality nearly follows the course of temperature, the greatest number of deaths being in the coldest and hottest months, as is the case in Calcutta, from diseases of all classes. But, although contrasted teunperatures appear to occasion increased mortality in cholera cases, the relation ccases at this point, for the cases are fewest in the cold months, and In ust wuinerous in the hot months. For instance, in the months of Novein- ?r«r, December, January, and February, the proportion of cases to strength is respectively 092, 0:82. 0-68, and 0 N9 per cent. ; that is to say, under 1 p'r cent. per inonth; while, in the hut months of March, April, May, and the comparatively hot months of August and Septeinler, the number of cases were respp lively 1:10, 1'14, 109, 101, and 1.06 per cent. ; that is Say', somewhat above i per cert. December is the only cold month in which the deatlis ire under 1 per cent. (0.8%) of the strength ; wbich is the more curious, as the preceding month of Novenber is characterised by an average mortaliti, for 31 years, of 1.23 per cent. The mortality in the cd months of January and l'ob. was respectively 1:10 and 1-26 per cent., ad for Diarch, Ipril, and May, 1:30, 1:27 und 1 25 per cent. The setting in of the monsoon in June, reducing the temperature to a medium slate between the colil and bot months, and saturating the air with moisture until the inonth of October, appears to have a decided effect, both upon the number of cholera cases and the intensity of its mortality ; the per centage mortality is reduced nearly ope-balſ in these mouths, amounting respectively to 0.59, 0.51, 0:68, 072, and 0.97 per cent. An equable temperature and elevated hygrometric state of the air, would appear, therefore, to be unfavourable to the spread of cholera, and to influence decidedly the ratio of the mortality. Another great feature of the table exhibits some very anomalous characters ; and that is, the apparently capricious changes in the amount of 1.he annual mortality amongst the cases treated, but whether resulting from atmospheric causcs, thc idiosyncracy of individuals, or changes in the mode of treatment, Dr. Strong's report does not afford any evidence. For instance, the first year of the record of the cholera (1817), the deaths were 5 26 per cent of the cases treated, the number of cases being 513. The next year, 1818, the deaths were 10-42 per cent. in 307 cases, the next two years, the mortality rose to above 12 per cent. in 285 and 391 cases respectively. The rate of annual loss then fell gradually until 1824, when it was only 2.87 per cent. in 414 cases. The mortality then gradually rosc annually, until 1834 in which year it was 17.47 per cent. in 103 cases. The next year it fell to 4.29 per cent. in 163 cases, and it continued very moderate until 1840, when it suddenly jumped from 6.45 per cent. in 31 cases in 1839, to 19 69 per cent. 10 66 cases in 1840. The next year the maximum mortality of the .

·MORTALITY IN THE JAILS OF THE 24-PERGUNNABS, CALCUTTA, whole period occurred, namely, 54-16 per cent. in 24 cases. In 1842 the mortality wus 44.82 per cent. in 58 cases ; the next year it fell to 28.88 per cent. in 45 cases. Nor las it since fallen below 20 per cento in 1846 in 45 cases, and the last ytar of the return, 1847, gives a mortality of 22:72 per cent. in 22 cases. From the year 1838, the number of cholera cases fell suddenly from 185 cases to only 31 cases in 1839, and since that year until 1847, the picimum number of cholera cases in any one year, was only ou; but the rate of the morlinity had fearfully increased upon the smaller numbers. There are multitudinous instances where, in very many cases treated, there is not a single death; for instance, in the munth of April 8.22, there were si cases, and not one death ; whereas, in January of the elde year, there were 11 deaths in 3) cases. In March, 1822, there were ii cases an:] 1 deatb while, in March, 1828, there were 14 deaths in 332 cases. In Deceniber, 19:33, there were 5 deaths out of 10 cases, while, in the same month in 1837, there was not a single death in 12 rases; and in December, 1821, there will not a single dcath in 18 cases, These anomalies could bc iutinitely multiplied, and the table offers a usefui study to the speculative physiologist. Notwithstanding these monthly anomalies, the annual totals of cholera 988 indicate that in years when the cases were most numerous the ratio of seatis was least ; and the greatest percentage loss (nut the absolute frogs) was greatest wben the cascs were comparatively few in the year. Dr. Strong does not offer an opinion whether these anomalies were to be accounteu for ly atmospheric guses, which it would have required e car_tul record of meteorological phenomena to have assisted in determining : nor does he say wbether the varying niortality was connected with varyir; modes of treatincnt. In the absence of such essential information i would be Lazardous to cominent upon the facts as they appear; it is polain, however, that whatever may be the causes of the varying mortality, that, for no one year, nor for any one month of the whole period of sl years, luas the intensity of the mortality been comparable to that which is ocurring in Edinburgh, in London, and the proviuces, at the present moment. Dr. Strong's table, in the absculi ? some necessary duta, is, nevertheless, a very valuable document: to the actuary it is of great importance, for the averages running over su lengi bcned a period as il years, necessarily establishi a normal state, tha. enables him to fix with precision the risks that he run in his insuranees; and if the table were generally known it should have the effect of alling that "nreasonable panic which the presence of cholera in any locality in Europe appears instantly to produce ; for, under the most fivourable circumstances for tbe development and spread of the malarly, within the walls of prisons, where it has lasted percnnially, where it was impossible for lividuals to escape fronz its influen:e, and where depression of ind trom confinement, and the absence of proper exercise, predisposed to disedar, and where the usual annunl mortality in the jails is nearly, if rot uile double that of the population of Calcutta, we yet see that about one in ten persons only was susceptible of taking the disease, that the average of only 8:86 per cent. of those attacked died, and that only ) in 100 individuals exposed to it lost his life. Whether, therefore, contagious or not contagious, we have proofs that we may acquit ourselves of our duties to our neighbours with the guarantee that we expose ourselves comparatively to little risk, commensurate with the good that an xotire benevolence may produce.

·15 months bad food 3 months, May 1838, July 126 months good food Aug. 1839 to Sept. 1841 115 months bad food Oct. 1841 to Dec 1842 12 months bad 12 months good 1843. 1844. 12 months good 1845. 112 months good 1846. 4481 12 months goud 2 12 months good 1847. 1848. 12 months good months good 1849. 1830. 4.71 .. .. .. ... 2.67 6 MORTALITY IN THE JAILS OF THE 24-PREGUNXAIS, CALCUTTA. Abstract Table shewing the Mortality, first of the Zillah Jail of the 24- Pergunnahs, and, in the middle or second line that, of all the temporary convicts in suburb Jails, including those in the Zillah Jail, begining from May 1838, the convencement of the ration systen for such classes. Remarks on column I. First. Second. Turd. Fourth. Fifth. Sixth. Seventh. Eighth. Niath. Tepth. Eleventh For May, June and July, some Fish, Ghee, Spices, and Vegetables, were added, and in suitable quantity, with the effect of allaying the complaints, and tumult among the Prisoners, and in August given up and the insufficient ration again given. Labouring, 9.23 11.17 9.56 6.44 7.62 4.68 5.14 4.37 2.40 1.88 Nog-Labouring, 0.0 0.30 00 2.73 5.06 6.41 09.0 0.0 1.75 1.09 3.29 Hindoos,... 6.10 3.81 10.45 8.08 7.09 8.56 5.74 3.18 2.90 0.61 2.17 Musulmans, 4.00 2.41 7.09 8.0 4.31 2.56 0.70 4.94 4.50 291 4.12 Uotried,... 26 27 8.33 48.0 8.45 3 33 5.40 1.85 0.0 0.9 0.0 2.85 Debtors, 0.89 2.46 4.0 1.95 5.88 6.82 2.90 3.57 0.0 00 9.87 Females,... 00 4.0 3.51 5.13 9.30 0.0 1.93 0.0 4.44 0.0 Total in Zillah Jail only, 5.42 3.25 7.84 807 6.22 628 4.53 3.81 3.52 1.49 2.97 All the convicts of tempurary Jails & Zillah Jail also,..... 7.95 4.30 944 7.71 5.65 4.76 3.18 3.91 4.91 3.19 3.62 Deaths per cent. annum under the periods of the ration objected to, Deaths per cent. per annum under the periods of good rations, 4.19 reduced mortality by half to a point. The bottom line shews the mortality of the Life convicts who have always selected and cooked their own food. The Allipore Jail Life Prisoners only, 5.12 5 23 1.80 9.80 5 72 4.19 4.12 4.03 5.01 4.54 5.53 From 1820 to 183, the mortality of the entire Prisoners, Life and Temporary, averaged 8.74 per cent. per annum, oths, the mortalaty among the Life Ony.cts was assertained to have been only 3.25 percent. per annum. Since 1977 it has averaged only 1.83 per cent., with the exception of the two pe ods ind cated in columns 3 and 4 making, 27 minths in 1841 ? auds, uuring which period, eleven compound high partitiou walls were in the process i creating. The greater mortality was among the Zillah Convirtz, up to 1337, but this nuortality has been brought to approxunate, and latterly, to be en less, than that amoug the Life Convicts, since, their improved, and ariditoual allowance. N. B.--It shuud be remarked that for the last seven years, there has been no addition to the Life Prisoners, who have since 1843 all been transported rond beds, and! only remain in the Allipore Jail for short perivds before embarkat on the remaluing old hands have, as the last line slews, remarbably good healt).. In 1830 July. The S. N. Adaw'ut at my request for statistii al chseration allowed the two classes of prisont:rs to be made out in separate Tables. La this yeal the varistiate reported tu the Prisoni diseboe Lulamittee that tht, ave: age age of these Life (onists kas ut sears these now living exceed FP. STRONG, Surgeon, 21-Pergunnars. 11.30 1 ........ that are ·52 Topography of Calcutta. 16 No. 5; 1837.-- The Magistrate of the 24-Pergunnahs on the heathiness of the districts, with remarks on the health of Prisoners and the management of them; with Tables of the proportion of sick to Prisoners, the proportion of deaths to Prisoners; and the proportion of fatal cases of cholera among Prisoners to those attacked with that disease for the lust 20 years,- also a Table showing the mortality among the natives in Calcutta for the last five years, and of the other sections of the population of the last 20 years. The Tables will nome he found in page ly anul following pages in the Yearly Report from the Surgeon of the 24-Pergunnahs on the dicting, &c.gr. of Prisoners, and these Tubles extend to 30 years, therrin will also be found Tables shewing the mortality of cholera to those artacheil by this scourge, and also to the arenge Quily number of prisoners for the same number of years. To J. II. PATTON, Esq. Mayistrate of the 24-Pergunnahs. May 18th, 1837. SIR, ---In reply to your letter of the 17th of April, relative to the selection of the districts to which prisoners under sentonee ol' banishment are sent, and to the climate of any such districts heng likely to prove prejudicial to their veneral healih, and also as to the climate of the district and station under in charge, and reque-ting my opinion whether it is uncongenial to the constitu'ion of any, of the prisoners confined in the jus :--) beg to say that taking this subject into consideration, perhaps I may le permitted to take into view in some degree, the effect of the climate upon the health of other classes besides prisoners, and if we had full and sufficient data to go upon, it might be desirable to compare the rate of mortality amongst prisoners in the zillah or district with that of the laboring classes forming the mass of the geueral population. The atmospheric changes which began in 1817 to produce cholera, which then becaine, and has since continued an epidenic disease throughout India, and which has increased the ·17 Topography of Calcutta. mortality among prisoners as well as among the inhabitants of this contrv generally, is not yet understood, and other (".1!1S0•4 with wluch we are nearly equally unacquainted, sometimes occur and render places that have been considered Dalibiy', unhealthy. I my her be allowed to state that Lord William Bentinck almost immediately after his arrival, upes hearing that I had interested myself up on the subject of malaria, desired that I would communicate ny sentiments to lis Lordship, and after some interviews I give his Lordsbip papers relating generally to the bralthiness of Calcutta, and its suburbs; and in a third written communication, I stated that " The last. Jear (incaning the yrar 1828) has been more healthy than any i have knowis, and is the first year since I have been surgeon or the subulis that I have not had an additional number of native docu.r-, 30 or 30, station d at videreut po-ts, with medicines and instructious to admiter to every rase as quickly as possible aning the natives, and I believe Calcutta itself has pqually escaped the scourup (cholera) this year; certainly Calcutta aud the Entally suburbs have been generally more healthy than usual." Since this period, four unpreredeuted mundarious have occured, in 1831, 182, 18:33 and 1834 Hobust have acted considerably in deteriorating the clitale for tour, but wala ihis excrption, am always making an excep:ion of the bigrad belt of dense jangal, dirty tanks, jlicces, lixurmit Wands and swamps, which exist close upon and bevond the Mulratta Dirch, and lend all reund 'ulic city, atid wheel formed the more immediate wyject of any cumunications with the Goverrin (eneral, I am of Opinion Uut the Suuldes 4ition of this district is among the most healthy of any in Bengal, and I much question wherber there iw any Bengal civilstation where the public health will be and better than at Allpore. I will non proceed to consider the effect of this climate on the prisouliers for the last 20 years, during the whole of which tme the cholera has appeared as an epidemie; and with a Stent to wat once glance the proportion of sick to the pri- SODAS, ils well as the irontality among them; annex two table , bosh beginning with the year 1817, and xuding last ver: we shows the proportion of sick, the other the mortasity. Tie 11-t four years, my predecessor Dr. Young, was Richarge of the cini duto's of this station, and the table shews tive average monthly proportion of one sick to eleven prisonou for the fuur vrais, while it will be seen that the nionthly istage pilcopus lion of dcaths for the same period was one Geath to 176 prisoners. I ·n'18 Topography of Calcutta. The last sixteen years shews an average monthly proportion of one sick to 214 prisoners, and the average monthly proportion of deaths for the sixteen years, af-pears to be one to 190 prisoners. And to prove that the climate has been more healthy to prisoners thau was anticipated it would have been twenty-seven years ago, 1 heu to refer to a letter of iny predecessor Dr. Young, to the Secretary to Government in the Revenue and Judicia i Department, dated the 1st of December, 1811, he say's, There is every reason to hope from the great attentiou which is now pard to the cleanliness and internal economy of the prisons, that the convicts will be generally much more healthy in future; there is however 110 reasou tu slippone that there will be at any tiine fewer in hospital than one in true to the whole number of prisovers, there Isas been frequently during the past year more than twice that proportion under my cap." And I hore beg to site for the information of the Commissione that inquines having of late been made into the causes of inortality and ichnie mo? prisoners generally, I jo unswer to a circular letter to Mr. Adan, the Secretary to the Comunitiee on convet': labor, entered into questions of a sinular natur- to those now referred to, and I trust I mnay be permitted to give some rituels frain what I then wrote bearing upon ilie same 11111s. In micply to Ar. Jelated April, 1x36), I quote this letter of Dr. Young's and tell " From this it will be observed that the proportion of sick in hospital to prisoners liais bei tar less than was originally anticipatel. ( beg to state thuillieve made this reference, because it goes all a great nisl 17 11 answer points about which you l'omnuitteilppear an nou to berome icquainted ; vir., the comfort of convicts in juil. \llinn Dr. Young wrole this the Allipore gliat vind uit: flat fuialied. It was to rontam prisoners for lite, others tons to transportation, and some from the up-country millalu citat vore than commonly turbulent characier, condemned for a series of years to labor in irons. These were pri-oners of all ages, and many arrive at an advanced age. Previons to ibis period, the convicts did not enjoy the cleanliness and remton tiiis capacious and airy jail afterwards afforded, and I maradd a suflicien ly cupacious hopital was attached to it, npurillae-s medical aid wis immediately resorted to, and this hospital received all the sick from the two jails and from all the road gangs, and I have contimued the sune monthly returns that Dr. Young always made to the Sudder Nizamut Adlawlut. In the lessened proportion of sick to prisoners will be seen the advantage of good, dry, clean, as ·19 Topography of Calcutta, and airy accomodation, but as regards mortality, the Allipore jail cannot be said to afford a criterion of the rate of mortality ainong prisoners generally, because it contains an immense number of convicts from the Western Provinces who ure confind for life; and vast numbers die in the jail of mere old age." 1 ſuriber added" As far as my experience and observation will permit die, after a performance of those civil duties for nearly suitren years, I will endeavour to afford every information in my premier, and I am thus far able to speak with cufidence that the prisoners in the Allipore jail are the inust stuut and bealthy of all the prisoners. Many have attained a great age, and are infirm from age only, and many die a natural leath; yet I have found at all tinies the proportion of sick to prisoneis, small as compared with those froin the working gangs. They are better housed and better fed than the others, they nearly all of them eat ata instead of rice, ur inix, or change it with rice, which as loud is more nutricious; a more liberal allowance of money daily enables them to do this. "'lde situation of the jail is particularly bealtliv, it is very Jorge, vlrv, and airy, the convicts work in the shade, they have hirieri accommoilation for cooking their food, and are conseqently not exposed to the inclentlicy of the weather to the beat, and cold, the sun and rain, to Jamp and obnoxious maris, like the mea nlio work upon the roads, with less allowance to purchase their comforts. These considerations induce me to think that if some indulgence was shewn to the working gangs, such as being put on the same allowance as those in the Allipore jail, employmg them in some in-door work when the weather was very bad, and always having shaded places wherein to cool their food ; in fact, to place them more upon a par with the working classes, there would be much less sickness among this description of convicts than there is at present. I find from my own observation, as well as from the report of the European (Iverseers, that the upcountry couviets support the fatigue of road-voiking quite as well, if not better, than Bengális, and that they are generally preferred for labor. If the road-gangs could afford to purchase ata, and if some attention was paid to their comforts, I do not think their working on the roads would be detrimental, and I am of opinion that a saving both in life and lealth would be the result." Thinmates of the Allipore jail are all of them banished prisoners, generally 1,200 in number, and separating them from the rest, and making a comparison of the inortality ·Topography of Calcutta. 20 among them for the last ten years, I find the mortality to be 54 per cent. per annum, which is less than the mortality of the prisoners in the zillah jail and those upon the suburbs roads. I cannot therefore consider that the climate acts very injuriously upon those banished to Allipore for life, though some allowance should b made for the comparative comforts they enjoy, and which I have already remark upon. If I am to consider the prisoners who have been sent froin the 24-Pergunnahs zillah jail to Burdwan as banished prisoners, they appear to me to have much deteriorated in health since they lelt this zillah. and the mortality has been great, since out of li pisuners who were sent to Burdwan in January last year, 10) died in the year; but whether they bave suficrel troni climate or from any rant of attention to their necessary comforts and longing at night, it is difficult for ine to decide with precision. Of the dust batch of seventeen who went to Burdwan in January last, two are dead and several have returned in a very weakened state, and are now in the Allipore hospital; indeed a quarter of the number of the entire prisoners just returned from Burdwan, are sick in huge piral. I had reported officially to you on the 12th of January last that these seventeen prisoners all appeared in good health, but that their fetteis, each weighing three pounds and a half, and one man's 10 pounds were too heavy, and you had them changed, and as I find their legs have not suffered fron the letters, this want of health among them must be imputed to some other cause. In answer to Mr Adanı as 10 any opinion of the cause of the great sickness and mortality that took plare among the different zıllah prisoners sent ti work on the Burdwan road, and which led to the appointment of the Committee of which he was Secretary, I stated, that 66 Other medical gentleman who have visited the Burdwan road, will be better able to judge of the cause of the mortality than myself. I have already alluded to malaria as an almost universal cause of sickness ; and as to the localities and the physical conditions which combine ti renuier places insalubrious, it would require too mucli space to enter upon here. Perhaps the best way of answering that question will be by stating that filthy tanks, jheels, luxuriant swards, jangal and damp and dewy nights, ire among the constant causes of fevers, dysentery, spleen, palsy, and various other diseases, and ought to be guarded against ; and I should here state in answer to the question whether I ascribe the above mentioned effects to the influence of climate or to the use of food and water to which the patients were not accustomed, that I ·21 Topography of Calcutta. un oi' opinion after many years' consideration of such investigation, that generally speaking the occasional use of bad froue, or had water, would go but little way in the production of such disca-es, compared with the more extensive cause malaria. No doubt bad food, which would not keep up the strength of a working man, would so reduce liim, us to render irim more cusceptible, but good food will not prevent the effect of this deadly poison upon those exposed to its influence, and such exposure', 10 a great extent, with hard work in fetters in the Kumand rain, adopted in considerately, would be likely no doubt to cause great mortality, particularly by cholera.” As rounded their confinement by night, 1 added, " I think if the night-waard watch properly, there will be no necessity of passing chains through the convicts' legs. This double night-chaining I never saw, but I am satisfied it Imust be attended with numerous evils, so obvious, that it is necessary here to enter into the subject further. This night-chaining of convicts together by the legs, as well as the heavy bar jion: in conmol use, ought, I respectfully subunit, to be abolished, as has bern the barbarous punishment of the korali, a punishment it bas been my painful duty nften to witness officially. I am emboldened in these remarks as your committee require ny aid as a question of humanity." I have stated the evils of night-chaining as obvions, because I think it only requires a moment's consideration 10 see the injurious effects upon the health of the prisoners, their, bring so liward as to be obliged to lie close together, and often, as I ain told, with the absence of all convenience tu those who require to get up. The paragraplis I have copied were written more than a year ago, and I would now wish to add, that the greater numles of cholera cases which are exhibited in the table annexed, occurred among the convicts in the zillah jail and those on the roads, and that comparatively speaking very few cases of cholera occur among the prisoners in the Allipore jail; and the observation of this particular circumstance, among other considerations, led me to make the remarks in a former part of the letter, that it'some attention was paid to the comforts of the road-convicts. it was my opinion that a saving both in life and health rould be the result. A new guarul-house is now building in a healthy spot for the Moochekola gang, and I hope I may be allowed to repeat my opinion an expressed in my letters of last year and the !«r before, that it raised mutchans and well necessaries were adopted in all the road gang establishments, it would be highly conducive to the hcalth of the convicts.

·Topography of Calcutla. th 22 As regards the necessity of some change of system in the necessaries in the Russapaglalı zillah jail, and which I have already brought to the notice of Government, I may state that the superintending surgeon quite agrees with me as to such necessity, and he gives his opinion in favor of the well necessaries; and although these prisoners now are allowed rations justead of money, yet as they have to cook their own food, my opinion is still unaltered that they should have a shady place to cook under upon their returned from work. Considering the mode of constraining prisoners to be of the greatest importance as regards their health, it will, I trust, not be considered inelevant ny here repeating what I said to Mr Adam upon the subject of friters. I said, “ The chains, or more properly spricking friers, those worn formerly lxx the prisonms of this sudder station, have been of every fonn length, hand, and variein, and sometimes extemely leair, and they were mutillately aimost all bar-fetters; aud as to the number of ulces I may have had, I beg to state that in October, November, and December, 1832, I harl 80, 98 and 65 cases of ulceraste? legs at one time in the Allipore hospital. One of these tumid out to be fatal, and on other occasions such has been the case : the two previous months, three cases tve?t fatal. '11,form and construction of chuins I would recommend to perfect security, and for the attainment of the greatest an.ount of labor with the least bodily pain to the convicts wel appeall trun noy l'espoudince upon that subject with the Sunder Nazamut Adaulut; and in a?swer to il:question about the weight of tetters, I should say that I Cider the maximum weight inight be 2 pounds, the main pund and 4, and the minimum 1 pound and a lialt: perhaps it the Diedium was adopted as a general 1«gulation chain, it would be better than having three different hands; 1.6 links should be rather long, and 3, 4, or 5, in vumber, 19) carl los. From what I have heard of chains being paned ilugh the prisoners' legs at night, consider that the count is often deprived of the rest and sleep necessary to health. I will endeavour to suggest a mode of building and yvarding to void this necessity, in another place. “In my remarks in the last six mouths' returns for 1831, I brought to the notice of the sudder Mizanut Ada wlut the great number of ulcerated log produced by fetters, and recommended the li heening of them if consistent with safety; and in answer to the Court's letter requesting me to submit a special report on the subject of ulcerated legs among the prisoners, with any suggestions which might seem likely to official cor- ·I 23 Topography of Calcutta. guard against the evil, I stated my opinion that the sores on the feet and legs of the prisoners did arise in general from thic friction of the fetters, and I suggested the use of properly constructed leather or mozehs, to be worn under the rings, anci still more strongly advised the substitution of linked chuin-fetters in lieu of the long iron bars in general use. sluted my belief that with such chains the prisoners would be able to work betier, and with greater ease to themselves, than they can trom the inconvenient straddling position they are constrained to adopt in walking and in working caused by the straight iron bars, and that I thought the continued fretting ald friction occasioned by these bars would be avoided, or at all events greatly lesened. "Du answer tü tic Medical Board's circular, I again urged the adoption of the change abore alluded to regarding fetters; and some time afterwards haung been sent for by Lord Bentinck 1?p-1) the sulject of prisone, I gave m a memorandum in winch with resprit to feiturs i thus express myse!! :--'! trust that the Government will be moved to take int's cousideration the propriety of having chrins in lieu of bur-fitters for all prisoners, and that one general regulation rhain constructed of the best iron, be manufactured under the superintendence of wolne vilicer in the service, and sent to the liflerent zillahs, or that a model of the summer should be seint, so that to diference may exist is too other the weight, shape, or the quality of the pital: tor rofactors prisoners double chains filiis hind would do so harm, but I have otinfruco the greatest inconvenience arise from the use of tur iron.' “After tjus period and in communication upon the same sulject with Captain Jenkins, the Commissioner of Asin, he sent me down it drawing of a chunn he proposed, and I ham liere adopted, which by means of a loch s spring torch the chains from one leg of a prisoner, and it was obserwise disposed of while he worker, after which it was again brought on the leg. I cannot exactly recollect the peenliarity of this cbain, but I thought it so ingenious that I sent it to the private Secretary, who had already procured a model of a link chain. 11 answer to the Medical Board's circular above alluded 10, I also stated that I thought the greatest grievance prisoners suffered under wins their fetters, and I enclosed my correspondence with the Sudder Nizamut Adaw. fut upou the subject. I also reinarked that I had made a cal- Cuition of the number of ulcerated legs and sores, as compared with the sick n hospital at the end of each month for the Test cighteen muntlis ending December 1833 and that I found the proportion as one in three or one-third : 1 added that nearly ·24 Topography of Calcutta. all the irons I had occasion to remove were bar irons, which however light must be a constant hinderance and annoyance to men moving about or having to walk a considerable distance I have found a party of prisoners, who had all bar irons, arrive with nearly all of them having ulcerated legs: and in allusion to a central gang of prisoners who had been for many years located behind the general hospital, having a year before heen broken up and sent to the Russapaglah jail, I reinarked in consequence of having observed great sickness among them, that since their removal, thev had to go ir great distance to their work, which to men wearing bar-fetters must have added greatly. !ot only to their bodily labor, but to their exposure to the heat of the run, and is the inclemency of the weather, and must bir calculated to affect their general health. In my last Janary remarks in reference to the 18 months' comparison already alluded to, 1 stated, “I have now made a similar comparison for the last eighteen months and find the proportion of ulcerated here as one to twelve only (meaning as compared with the sick in ho-pital at the end of each month and including the most trifling sores), which I conceive to be the result of niore cart ard attention breng paid to the fetters, but more particularly to the circumstance of chain, instead of bar-letters, being more detierally used than before;" and in iny last six months' returns, I stiler! the lilimber to be abont half a dozen at a time in the hospitisha and all those sores of a inost trifling nature. The bar-fetters are injurious in a variety of ways: for instance, after a convice is fatigued with carrying a basket on his head for a long time, liesits down to rest with his knees up, the weight of the lar tetiers prese the rings down with considerable force on his insiep and ankles, and there constantly produce sores or swellings, often of a fivere and debilitating description, or such miay bup causer at night during sleep The junction of these bar irons to the rings is often badly arrangedd, not having play enough, and this portion of the bar-letters will often do mischief] annot think that this mode of making convicts labor is either bumane or useful, besides, independent of the loss of the codict's labor while in hospital, he causes a considerable expence to the state in medicines, dressing, and increased diet, necessary to keep up and support his emacuted state, which is often fast sinking when ulcers take a bad turn ; and I should add that the same sores are constantly breaking out again and again, and the patients as often coming iuto hospital. From inquiries I have made I find chain links are in general use in England, • Ulcerated Legs since the vlmost groeral adoption of rhia ufilles are now quiteone' om mon.

·Topography of Calcutta. 25 and a grutleman just returned from Van Dieman's Land slys, "that chains are universally adopted there." As my opinion is asked as a question of humanity, as well as of public improvement and of econoniy, I would beg to give an important and additional reason for abolishing the use of bar-felters altogether. It is this, that a man long accustomod to the nsp of such fetters, cannot for a great length of time reenver his natural mode of walking, by which he is 10 to the public as having been a prisoner, which is highly caluated to prevent bis obtaining an bonest living. Many vedul's ago, the magistrate of Furridpore, in consideration of sucis awful consequences, both to the liberated prison- 119 and to the public, adopted the plan of gradually taking ofl'thie bonis, until it last the prisoners, who prere upwards of 1000 in number had, with very few exceptions, only the imgs in their legg; only one man made his escape, and he was immediately re-taken. This gentleman says that in this he had two) motives. one the encouragement of their labor, the other a matter of policy from observing that those redeseed 110 one liked to employ, as they were marked and conspicues from their gait for a lung time after their release vi berib this measure effectually vid away, and to it he principally attributed their being enabled to get employmeni.” I üln happy to be able to state that for the last month there his not been a case of ulcerated leg in the hospital. From the details i have given, if we are to look to the effect of climate alone, as forming a criterion of the general healiis of the prisoner's banished to the station of Allipore, I think it will appear that the climate is not unfavorable ; and in allusion to that I have said of the old age of many of these prisoners banished for life, I would beg to enclose a list of Stieral prisoners now in the jail, who have attained very advances ages, some upwards 80 years and several between 70 and 80 years, and it will also be seen that of these some are nutises of the Upper Provinces. I have sometimes noticed in my monthly returns to the Sudder Nizamut Adaw. but the old age some who die; is for instance in my November Telurns for 1831, I stat: -" The deaths are 110- merous this month, and chiefly dysentry, many were very old pusoners in several of rery old age, one 90, another 82, mother 75. two were 70, and others considerably advanced is years.' But it is not to the effect of climate alone, that Wilt to look in considering the general health of piriseiert in it cistrict. The climate, as I believe this to be, mui" be in favorable, or more so, than nost others in the same part of the country, and yet the returns of tlie sick ·26 Topography of Calcutta. amongst the prisoners may be swelled out by the various other causes of sickness I have alluded to, and as in the instances I have given, prisoners in health may be sent from a district and return sick, as those sent from this district to the Burdwan road. My allusion to this, I trust will not be thought irrelevant, when it is considered that they now forrn a cousiderable part of the sick under my own charge and go to wake my own returns of sick greater than would otherwise be the case, there being upwards of twenty of the returneil prisoners in ho-pital, or as about 1 sick to 4 prisoners, while the average porportion of sick for the last sixteen years has been 1 sick to 21 prisouers. "This latter remark is also applicable to the returns of sick for those periods when they were increased by the number with ulcerated legs from the bar irons, a cause of illness quite independent of climate. I he prisoners who are just relumed fion Burdwan wire, when in this zillali, used to some rognlarity, they were well housed in the Russapaglah jail, and I believe all who ruse it were accustomed to fish* as part of their food; besides which, they liad not their right's rest distrubed by any uncomfortable mode of confinement, therefore it is not easy to say that the climate where they were sent to work, Was, alone, injinical to these inen: if it was the climate alore', the guards ought also to have suffered. As bearing upon mortality, I are dirawn up the annexed table of mortality froin authentiurces; that of the Natives I can only procure for the las; five years, and from this it appear that I am borfie ont in my otiservation, regarding the effects of the inundatious; and the other communities which are for 20 years, sew il grrater mortality about the same period : they also shew, in cominon with the Native community, a decrease in mortality, and consequent improvement during the last two year. Taking into consideration the increase of population, specially that of Europeans and excrpring the peculiar years of the inu".dations, the general tendency of these tables shew that public health inust have improved, and consequently that the climate has rather improved than otherwise. It is true these tables relate to Calcutta, and nut to the conatry around , but if we had similar data to guide us, we might be able to form a more correct opinion of the climate. I have & (Signed) F. P. STRONU, 18th May, 1837. Surgeon, 24-Pergunnahs. * Admitted to have ren not rquello quurler of what the Medical Board considler Dungary. will ·27 To F. P. STRONG, Esq. Civil Surgeon of Zilluh 24-Pergunnahs. 2nd June, 1839. Suilder Dewanny Adawlut. Present. R. H. Rallray, Sir, W, Biaridan In coinpliance with the and Engres C. Tocker request contained in your Letter Juriges dated the 28th Ultimo, I am direct- A. Dick ed by the Court to transnit, to you And E gres copy of the Documents there- J. F. M Reid Tempy. Judgra in mentioned, as per List annexed. I all, Sir, Yours obedient humble Servant, J. A. F. IIAWKINS Register Fort William, The 21st June, 1839. S LIST OF PAPERS. 1. From Dr. Strong 28th February, 1838. 2. To Magistrate 24-Pergmnals, 16th March, 1838. 3. From Dr. Strong 20th April, 1838, with enclosures 4. From Ditto, 21st April, 1838, with enclosures 5. Tu Magistrate 24-Pergunnalı, 4th May, 1838. 6. To Government 25th May, 1838, with enclosures 7. Bron Session Judge 24 Pergunnahs, 10th May, with ti.clusures 8. From Dr. Say 28th February, with enclosures 9 From the same. 23rd March, 1839. 10. From Magistrate 24-Pergunnals, 18th April, 1839. 11. From Dr. Strong, 29th April, 1839, with enclosures (Signed) J. A. F. HAWKINS Register.

·28 SIR, annun. To J. A. F. HAWKINS, ESQ. Register | Sudder Nizamut Aduulut 28 February 1838 In sending you my returns for the Allipore jail and that of the 24-Pergunnahs jail, the latter including the prisoners located in the suburbs, I would wish to bring to the notice of the Sudder Nizamut Adawlut, the great difference in the proportion of sick to prisoners, and in the mortality of the two departments. I have often in my official returus, and correspondence, noticed this before, and as the returns have for the last eighteen months been by the orders of the Court made out separately, and not as has been the case in former years in one single report, it is easy to see at one glance the naterial difference I allude to. In Allipore jail, the last year gives 1 sick to 261 prisollars, the other departments 1 to 99. In Allipore 4: per cent. deaths per In the other departments, 5 per cerit. per annum, but in the Russapogla villah jail, I find the mortality has for the last twelve inonths, been upwards of 7 per cent., a great mortality, when rompared with that of the 1200 prisoners for life itAllipore, while the proportion of sick to prisoners has bern uearly one to five. It is true that a great many prisoners were returned from the Burdwan roads in a dreadfully weak stair, but nearly every one of theni recovered, and it was for a short true ouły, that the sick were increased in minber by them. This casual circumstance therefore is not sufficient to account for the great discrepancy in the sickness, and mortality, in the two departments, which I have often brought officially to notice. I cannot help thinking, that food, its quality, and lind, bas mrh to do in this difference of health, and mortality, tho' other circumstances may also assist in a less degyre, in producing the deterioration of bealth in the zillah priscis, who are convicted to work in irons for a time only. Among other reports made by me officially upon this subject, I remarked, in answer to the medical boards circular of 1833, upon the great inortality which prevails ainony convicts particularly those in Bengal, tat, I thought that prisoners who go out a great distance tu work in dry weather, should have their food cooked where they worked, for if they *teturn very late they le much hurried in preparing their meal, and have hardly we to cook it efficiently, and to eat it with any degree of comfuit, before being locked up for the night.

·29 And upon the same subject in answer to a circular from the Seerotary to the Committee of convict labuur, I said "Tip in the questiwn of dieting, after considerable reflection, "and enquiry upon the subject, I find it extremely difficult “ to form an opinion as to whether money, which has always “ been the custom, ur rations cooked and given to prisoners is best. There is much to be said in favor and against, both “plans, but I think I have thoroughly ascertained that to alter “ from the money allowance, to rations, would be thought “extremely crud by the prisoners. I once thought rations “ would be desirable, but troin conversation with Gentlemen who have had charge of prisoners, and others, including overseers, 1 am inclined to give a preference to the usual mode, four picp a day about Calcutta, the Allipore jail allowance, is not too much, if a prisoner is to be fed at all like "a labomer, and to be kept in a state of healtlı, and strength, “ fit for work : three pice m districts, where as in Dacca, * Rice is very cheap, and tish, mussullah, turkarie, &c. equally Svo, inay be enough; I am inclined however to agree with the ilutir ou Indian jails, that the sum now yencrally allowed " is too smail, and that four pice, which is one anna, is not "too much, and not more than sufficient to preserve health “aud 10 wurd off a fatal termination when disease actually "occurs." I agree also with the sentiments expressed in the above work on the necessity of convicts being allowed two meals a duy; where peculiar circumstances prevent it, they should have time to get some jalpan, or fried rice, or granı, some part of the morning when they get a little rest; but I think ihis should be a regular ineal, as is the case with all the Bengal ryuts, with our servants, and all the working people of the country; they have also their domestic comforts, whilst convicts have neither females to cook for them, nor have they always shaded places to cook under; but surely some plan might be adopted to place thein more upon an equality as to food with other labourers, I have understood that the old juil rivulations point out that a reasonable time should be allowed prisoners either at sun rise, or at noon, for their meal, and that they should be conducted back to their jail or huts in time to allow of their mening meal in comfort before being locked up I have been informed that the late Mr. John Elliot the magistrate of Tıpparalı, and afterwards, the superintendant of the Allipore jail, had houses erected at Tipparah, in the form of a square, in which the wives of the convicts resided, who ·30 cooked their dinner for them, when they were at work on the roads, and brought it on their return ready cooked to the jails. In my letter to the commissioner upon the subject of prisoners which was dated the 18th of May, 1837, and which I understand was forwarded by that gentleman to your court, you will see that I enter largely upon the subject, and strongly advocate that the zillah prisoners be put on the same allowance as the Allipore prisoners, viz. four pice a day instead of three pice ; It appears to me, that they cannot upon the latter sui, afford to purchase fish as food, I conceive essentially necessary for a working man in Bengal, and having in that letter rather freely given my opinion as to certain other causes which i believed tendei to depress prisoners working upon the roads, I need not again repeat what I there said, as it will be seen, that I touched upon the subject fetters, housing, water, food allowance, and coukiny under shade, and as regards health, and cleanliness 1 particularly dwelt upon the necessity of attending to the privirs in the zillah jail, and the erection of Mutchins, or plati rms, for those prisoners who were in huts or tents, tu sleep on, the necessity of such mutelians, I forcibly brought to the notice of the medical board four years ago, and stated that I thought it an object of the utmost importance." Respecting privies, I would wish here again to repeat that the well pykannahs at the Insane Hospital have answered completely for the last ten years, and those at the Allipore Hospital have answered equally well, and that I would strong. ly recommend their adoption both at the Allipore and zillah jails, and as I have long ago, and often urged, that, I consider that one of those well pykamals should be made at each of the suburb guards, where the prisoners are located. I may remark that great care ought to be observed in the formation of the receptacles. Well pykaunahs made on a plan somewhat similar to those I have adoptri, were formed at the Police Office, in the city, and in the fort, but they were defective, iu as much, is apertures were left open and they have proved to be, as I predicted, perfect fiiilures. To return to the subject of food, I have examined the articles brought to the zillah jail b; Bunnfas, and to the best of my judgement they appear good. There are three kinds of rice, old, new, and a medium kind, sold at different prices. Should the prisoners, 20 of whom are allowed to depute one of their body to purchase for thein three pice worth of victuals, choose the che iper rice, on account of getting a larger quantity, ·31 it is possible that this may affect their health, particularly if it is not duly boiled, or if swallowed in a hurried manner, if such be the case, a suggestion in the last paragraph of my letter to the medical board, to have their victuals cooked for then, might obviate such cause of sickness. Indeed if the system of rations be continued, I think their food should be cooked for them, tho' in such case, great and constant attention will be necessary to ensure the good quality of the different articles, as well as their being cooked in a proper manner. It may not be improper to add, that I consider no additional expense need be incurred in carrying into effect the suggestion I allude to, as from every working party of prirouers, one, or more, could be selected, as in the case of men on board ships, both soldiers and sailors, to be cooks, or Mess Oreilies, for the day; the duties of those persons being to collect the raw food from their associates, if money is served to them, or from the moodies, if ratious be continued. These considerations, and the numerous difficulties belonging to the subject induced me to remark in the early part of the letter, that I gave a preference to the inoney allowance, only that I considered that the zilluli prisoners in the 24- Pergunahis should be placed on the same footing as those on the Allipore zuil. In conclusion. 'I have in former public letters alluded to the healthy locality of the Allipore jail, its excellent tank of irater, and the general airiness which prevails throughout the building but must further oliserve that its inmates have always tuo meals a day, are able to purchase better food than the zillal prisoners, most of them have fish and those who chouse have ata ; I think it is fair therefore to conclude that the good state of health they enjoy, depende much upon those advantnges conjointly, and as the zillah prisoners do not enjoy equally good health, I cannot help attributing the difference to the unnt of confort as regards food, and the participation of the other benefits, in á less digree than their fellow sufferers in continement at Allipore. I have, &c. (Signed) F. P. STRONG, Surgeon 24-Pergunnahs. Feby. 28th 1838.

·on The Courts Report to Government dated 25th May, 1838. Nizamut Adawlut. Present. R. H. Rattray, Para. 2. “The Report by Dr. Strong Wm. Braddon the circumstances by which the health eod >« of Prisoners is affected, appears to the WJ. H. Halbead « Court to be deserving of attention.” Judges Wm. Money and J. R. Butchinson Tempy. Judges From the Surgeon of the 24-Pergunnahs. To R. H. MYTTON, ESQ IRE. Magistrate of the 24-Pergunnahs. SIR, 1845. I had the honor to receive your letter of 13th instant with copy annexed of the letter from Mr. Under Secretary Turnbull, dated 26th September, 1844, requesting me to furnisl you with my opinion relative to the new system of allowing to prisoners two cooked meals per diem at the earliest date 1 could conveniently submit it. A year having elasped, ) proceed, conformably to your last letter to make my report for the whole of the year 1844, upon the working of the present dieting system ; and as I consider the most efficacious way is to compare it with former systems for the same purpose, I would observe, the last rules abrogated thuse circulated on the 9th of July 1841, which again superseded those contained in circular orders No. 24 and 28 The Allipore hospital in this dated respectively the 26th year 1811 was finished, and on April, & 23rd Aug. 1839.-And the 1st December, same year, iny the last inentioned rations sucpredecessor Dr. Young wrote 10 Government as follows. ceeded a ration adopted in the " There is every reason to hope Russapagla jail in May 1838, " from the great attention which in which year the system of "is non paid to the cleanli. Dess, and internal economy, rations, in lieu of money alof the prisons that the conlowance first commenced under of victs will he generally much the orders of Governinent. " more bealthy in future, there Previous to this latter date, pice 66 jo bowever no reason to sup: pose tbat there will be at any were given to each prisoner 6 time fewer in hospital than one for his food, and the system that "jo ten of the whole number of obtained, altogether, was acprisoners, there has been fre. cording to the rules for the quently during the year more « than twice that proportion proportion management of public jails, cir- & under my care." culated the 14th of March ·$3 "ibe • Ten years after this date, on 1811,* and which rules were the 3rd of August 1821, the Sud. printed anew, unaltered, about der Nizamot Adaplut remark 4 years ag», so that it with satisfaction opon, be may email proporiinn of sick, and said they formed the system "cabaleirs, to the number of for more than a quarter of a “ prisonera coufived." -The fol. century before the late several lowing twenty years exhibited aproportion of one sick tr twenty. changes took place. (As reone of the life and zillah prigards food these orders direct, Sonere. as noted in the Margin. 'All the Irisoners liable to hard labor, shall be brought out These rules, according to of ibe tepla, huls, or jail, by sun my understanding, direct clearrice ; reasonable tiine sball be ly two regular meals per diem; allowed either at that bour, or at the morning meal at such penoon, as the Magistrates may riod as the magistrate may dhem most convenient for the Brisoners to take ibeir meal. direct; and as I had, in 1840, The rest of the duy shall be oc for twenty years most strongly, cupied by the prisoners in per: formance of the prescribed labor, essentially and repeatedly, advocated as but they shall uniformly be coo. essentially necessary for men ducied back to the jail, buir, who labour like prisoners, two or tents, soon enough to allow ineals per diem, ſ obtained a of their taking their evening copy of the rules with the conmeal, and of being mustered, sent of the Deputy Governor, sear..bed, and properly secured and transmitted thema on buture it is dark. the 23rd March 1840, together with a circular of the Medical Board pointing out the necessity of two cooked meals, daily, to the Sudder Nizamut Adawlut ; (with which Court I then communicated monthly, according to regulation (14) of 1816. The jail by ihat regulation being placed immediately under the Superintendence of the Judges of that Court. And I received an official answer from the Register, on the 19th of April, saying the Court were confident the magistrate would pay every attention to the suggestions of the Medical Board for preserving the health of prisoners, and copies of the correspondence were forwarded by the Court to Government. Previous to this, in 1835 indeed, I had already obtained the consents of the Court to make separate reluruis of the life and zillah prisoners, and in April 1836, in reply to a circular from the prisun discipline committee, I pointed out the great difference of position, and health, of these two classes of delinquents. lu May 1837 in answer to a circular from Mr. Commissioner Pigou, I again entered at large upon the same subject, and the letter written by ine on this occasion was forwarded to the Sudder Court by that Gentleman.

·34 Now, as regards the zillah temporary prisoners working on the roads, during all the time I have been, since 1820, in Medical Charge of this Sudder Station, I have always advocated that each man should be allowed, under the former pice system, 4, instead of 3 pice per diem, (the allowance obtained by the life prisoners at Allipore, who formerly were always much more healthy than the zillah prisoners, averaging until lately, about 5 per cent per annum). I have proved in my letter, dated 10tl. Novenber 1841, accompained by tables, and appendages relating to the price of different kinds of food throughout our Indian Provinces, to the satisfaction I be lieve of the Sudder Nizamut Adawlut, and the Medical Board, that articles of food have always been, at this presidency, much dearer than elsewhere, and it was ever obvious to ne that for 3 pice, the men could not here obtain the necessary quantity of animal food even for one meal, exposed as they wers, with only one evening meal, to the malaria of Bengal on an empty stomach, together with a little raro, or parched, Gram, or Rice, (which the Medical Board object to, under "The Prison Dieriplide Com- public circulars for the ins- " mitte remark page 47 in tructious of all Civil Surgeons.) "speaking of the Allipore jail, I therefore, after many years o nine tenths of the prisoners or in Allipore jail are observation and consideration, sl fined for life, fpery one of pointed out, on the 28th Feb- "Theer inust Novner or luter die ruary, 1838, in a letter to the in confiuement. None of the Sudder Nizamut Adawlut, and monvicts on the roa's are con- "tiurd for lite : the past innjo. in numerous official letters since "sity of those ther, fore ongi that date, to the Sudder, and n to be released many card Zillah Courts, the great heal- "butore their deaths. Thus the thiness that obtained among "average age of life prisoners " must be ever much greater the Allipore Life prisoners, " than the average age of tem. as compared with the zillah prsary prisoners, and conse temporary ones.-- This was for quently the ratio of deaths some time doubted by Governamongat tbe former must ever “ ceteris paribue greatly exceed !nent, and did not produce the “the ratio of deste amongst desired effect until last year. "The latter, when the contrary Mr. Patton, the then Magis- " is the case the difference of trate, in answer to the court st heaithiness niust be excessive" jemarked, " I think I may as- (arxgraph 110) Mr. Pation's letter below “sert vithout fear of contraquoted, shewe the small mortality diction, that there does not amongst the Allipore Life con “crsist a cillah jail, in which victs ; #inong the zillab class it had always up to this period, “ed victuals twice a day.- " the convicts partake of dressgreatly exceeded the 5t per oent per apbu cut- ·35 Extract of report of the magis. After much communication trate of the 21-Pergunnahs to se: however, both the Sudder, in lub nur dated the 27th September January, 1840, and the Go- 1836. vernmnet in February of the With referepre to the 3rd same year, acknowledged my 'prø. of your letter i heg view to be correct. Governfritii in se nic bat the rate of ment directed the subject to be ** !!!"ttality in ihe Allipore jail "wilhin the last ten years bas investigated and reported upon; been 6 per cent. and I am now happy to observe the desiderated change as regards food, has been adopted hroughout Bengal. My comparative tables of health, during different systems of rations, from the cominencement of the ration xy-tem 1838, I think clearly shew the great advantage of sufficient animal food, a point on which, as I have exhibted, the Hone Secretary in England after great research and scrutiny, semis entirely tı agree, and the tables for diet, under his orders, do, comparatively speaking, correspond with those now adopted by the Govcrument here. In 18:38, Dr. Smith the superintending surgeon and myself proposedi, in consequence of great mortality among the working prisoners, a ration with 4 chittacks of fislı, or meat daily. It was adopted for 3 months and then the contractors 3 pice ration agaia was had recourse to. The Court of Nizamut Adawlut did me the honor to send me answers to certain queries as to food, put to the authorities in the adjacent Districts ;-and the answers sheved that the dieting was rery lor", and fish or mcat harılly ever obtaineil. The Court, also at my request, and to a-sist me in my enquiries, forwarded to me the mortality of prisoners working on the grand trunk road. Here the mortality was dreadful ; out of 13493 prisoners, 2340 died, besides many who were sent home sick, and died on the road, and in the zillahi jails; the first amout a bore stated equals 16-84, per cent.On further enquiry I ascertained from public documents, and returns, that in our Bengal Provinces for six years (1833. 38 inclusive, ) the inortality among prisoners had been found to average 8-38, per Cint. per annum and at that timel predicted that with two proper meals daily, and other care, it inight be reduced to nearly orie haif this amount. The men on the grand trunk road had no doubt many hard-hipe to undergo, but if otherwise taken care of and two unod cooked meals allowed them, I know no reason why they ·36 ... ........ ..... Weight of Pieb before and after should have been so unhealthy, Cooking or why the mortality of our Before After cb 40,000 zillah working prison- Prawn shell fish.... 4 lege 21 ers should have been so great, Tangrab...... 4 do. 24 if the spirit of the rules of Gurroge.. 4ldo. 25 1811 had been adhered to, and Goyrah 4 do 21 Khulsha..... 4do. 21 the two meals therein directcd strictly attended to; during the period of the least more tality among our Russapugla prisoners 4 chittacks of animal D. M. Trueman in bin lite food were allowed to each man work on lood, and its influence on health, and dispare pays at every other day. The present paga 2 while inainting on the ration-inevery-respect good; necessity of at least some animal gives this quantity also-every food to sustain brul hy hule.-"lt other day, and I agree with "huo tbe effert of encreasing the "quantity of fibrine in the blood, food should also be allowed you in thinking some animal "and favouring ibe growth of 16 the muscular Ayatein - He to the non-working prisoners. " adds, no doubt a perfectly On a former occasion I ad- " Datural nutrition of the body, vised they hould have half "cannot be obtaibed without it," what was allowed to the work- 1 bave quoted on several roca. cions in my communications 10 iny men. The table of this the Sudder, and Zillah Courts, year, during which time they other celebrated authors to the have hare been deprived of effect : and prominently stated that by experimente, I had asfi-ls, or meat, altogether, exbicertained the fish usually rated bits a greater nioitality aniong hy tbe Datives, lost hy clan. their class than I have known, ing, dressing and cooking, the acaths having increased nearly wall ite apigot which I have been in marginal tablee.- esactly nine tinies more per I find all the dirtaries frared amm than at any period under i he orders of the Home during the preceeding 4 years Secretary dirert the weigbt of and 8 months. The mortality meat to be given without the of last year (since these men bone.-Now during the healthy period of 26 mootbe, the nonhave lieen deprived of animal working prirouers were allowed food) is 3.04 per cent per animal frou, and the abstract annum ; whereas, for the whole table mbewe'a mortality of only of the former period, it was 8.80 per cent, per annum among tbese prisoners in the Zillah jail. While this last year it has proved to be 6: 43, per cent. among tbe above classes, and among all tbe Zillah prisoners both of this jail, and the 4 dife ferent guards, the latter of wbom have had animal food, the wor. tality is 5. 87,- True it is that ·37 WA * 1844 was on healtby in for unpreredented degree, and I Annex A table of the Celrutta mortality showing thon enormous increase of deathe in the first four months, during which period, the mortality greatest aipong all our prisoners only v. 56. per cent per annum. This appears to bear out Sir James Graham, the Home Secretary, whose opinions I have quoted in my annexed printed tables, as to the necessity of some animal food being allowed, I beg then again to repeat my suggestion, that the non laboring prisoners should be allowed half the quantity allowed to those who labour, In all other respects except food, the zillah jail prisoners have existed under the same advantages, and disadvantages. Among the former the jail bas always been kept clean, with exception to the open ground floor necessaries, in the corner of each ward. ---Ainon the disadvantages. the obnoxious qualities of these nuisances have been officially pointed out by the superintending surgeons, as well as myself for many years, particularly in their reports on jails for the year 1839 and 1810, and they have always agreed entirely with me as to the internal want of uir in the wards, and the want of space in each compound rendered more objectionable by the great height of the walls. Remedies for the necessaries were suggested ; and as regards the compounds it was advised that the walls should not be so high, and further thrown out.- both on the northern and southern site of this zillah jail, on ground belonging to Government. With a view to ascertain the consequences of an improved ration upon the frame of the men, I have had several weighed at different periods prior to, and since the obtainment of a more nutricious diet, and the result, was most favorable, A hetrict of nuro here in con- Allow me finement among the envigd zillah figured Tahles of prisoners prisoners #8 imbraprd in my mouth y sick re urna. both in the jail at Rusa rumher aloe sapugla, and those housed in 2nd perind at the different guard's; as well 115 monil 1805 40 as to another Table applying 2r.d. 20 m n o 1605 * 15 tn 5- 737 72 exclusively to the Russa pugla 12 m'th 850 185 jail : they detail the average bib 112 mon'he 903 235 rates of inmates at the sereral to refer to niy lmt. 3rd..

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·38 4ib............ Abstract of aombers of all des- periods of the ration charges. criprion of zillab prisoners con- It is possible that an overfined in the Ruson. Joil. crowded state may in some Domber above the 2nd period measure, and at some times 16 month. 472 76 have tended in a certain degree 200 126 moothe 397 * O to increase sickness. 3rd. 15 month 449) 52 12 months 484 87 51h.......... (12 montba 4501 63 Borb the above abstracts ahew that much fewer prisoners were in confinement during The 26 bealhy months iban at any oiber period since 1838. I have the honor to be SIR, Yours most obedient Servant, F. P. STRONG, Surgeon of the 24-Pergunnahs.

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·39 FROM The Surgeon of the 24-Pergunnahs. To J. A. F, HAWKINS, ESQ. Register of the Sudder Nizamut Adawlut. Calcutta, the 24th August, 1843. SIR, Ist.-In transmitting you the sick returns of prisoners for the Allipore jil, and the zillal jails, I have the honor to annex a copy of my letter to Mr. Mytton of the 19th instantin which 1 have taken the liberty of suggesting that it might be of great advantage to ascertain the quantum of sickness, and mortality, among all vur Bengal zillah prisoners of the Mahomedan caste, as compared with the sickness and mortality, of the Hindoos.- I think it would not only he valuable in a statistical point of view, but would be a guide to the apportioning of food to the two classes of prisokos. 2nd.-- Another use of such an enquiry would be that in jail, (as we know the number of each cluss and the number of deaths, we have a certaiu cluta tu calculate upon, which among the population of our provin; it is not easy to get by the census, or the mortality--i find the idea of Mugsulmans suffering more from deprivation of their usual food, is. not confined to myself. It will be seen it page 45, of Dr Malcolmsons book that among the Hindous and Mussulman Troops, seirt to Ceylon, 12-5 per cent among the Mussulmans suffered from Beribery 6.27 per cent only among the Hindoos, and in another calulation, 21 per cent. Mussulmans, and 8 per cent Hindoos, attributed by the writer, to the good system of animal food, the fornier had been uscd to, which they were prevented from procuring at Ceylon by the dearness of all kinds of food-and the necessary remittences to their families. 3rd.The subject is of great importance and as I understand your Court are about to decide upon a Table of diet for all the Bengal prisoners, I have taken the liberty of entering thus far upon the subject.-I will only add that the proper apportioning of food for prisoners, has been a subject of great attention at home of late years. Generous ·40 diet for promoting and keeping up health, and strength, to the active and laborious, is strongly advocated by the celebrated Dr. Macculloch, generally, but particularly, as l'esisting the effects of malaria :-and Dr. Pereira, has just published a Treatise on food and diet, in which he gives a tabular exhibition of the dietaries allowed by the poor Laws Commissioners, to paupers, and by the Home Office to Prisoners; and some other public Institutions.- In the report of this extensive national association there is a le ruing towards a system of generous food, yet, Dr Pereira in lus cutiral remarks on this agitated question, states, that he does not consider any of them too high, tho' some of thieu“ may be deficient;--I have urged the necessity of some ercrease in animal food, and beg to state that with a knowledge of all the discussion that has taken ploc. upon this subject before him” Dr. Mathew Truman who is a member of sevcral learned societies, both British and Forcign, so late as August last year, published his work on food, and its mfluence on health, and Disease. Jle insists on the necessity of at least some animal food to sustain Balthy life and says at rage (2) It has the effect of encreasing the quantity of fibrine in the blood, and favouring the growth of the niuscular system " he adds, no doubt a perfectly natural nutrition of the body cannot be obtained waliout it. ---Now, although I am ready to admit in commy with others who have bestowed great attention upon this subject, that a small proportion of animal food with a proper supply of rice, fresh vegetables, and condiment, is sutlicient to keep the boily of an active man in health, yet to attain this desirable object, we must not bring down that small proportion too low. The quantity, 2 chittacks of fish, xow given only twice a week when cleaned, dressed, and cooked, wcighs a niere trifle more than one chittack, including bones, this may be considered as two ounces, and this giren at such distant periods, can 1 fear do but very little to support nutrition, and ward off disease in working men, although it may be suſcient for prisoners who are confined in jail, and who do not work. I have remarkerl in some of my communications that the great “healthiness” formerly enjoyed by the life prisoners at Allipore--arose I thought, both from the airiness of the prison--and from the opportunity each man enjoyed of chosing from a good bazar the food, and condiment, he considered best for himself, and I observed that in considerations ab.,ut food for prisoners, we should not lose sight of this latter circumstance. Here I must beg to state that I am by ·41 no means averse to the ration system, I consider it has many advantages-although the food that may be good for some, may not be so for all, our constitution, propensities, and functions, vary so much, there is some difference in what may be required by the old, and the young-and the condiment also to which men may have been uccustomed, may have a naterial effect upon their health. Nevertheless, my system of rations that was adopted during 26 months when 4 chittacks of animal food was allowed every cther day to each man, answered better than any former piar: of pice, or ration, and a healthiness never before enjoyed ly the labouring prisoners of our zillah was produced. It appears a part of my duty to enter upon all these particulars, that I may add with others, my best endeavours to assist your Court in arriving at correct conclusions, for of laic, the system of feeding prisoners has been so often changed, that it requires minute attention to arrive at the truth-however, ligures iſ correct, are not to be contradicted and I would refer to iny Tables for three periods of three different rations for information above aljuded to. I have the bonor to be SIR, Your rnost obedient Servant, F. P. STRONG, Aug. 26th, 1843. Surgeon of the 24-Pergunnahs.

·42 No. 1639. 7th November, 1843. FORWARDED BY MAGISTRATE TO THE SURGEON, 24-PERGUNNAHS. Το The Magistrate of 24-Pergunnahs. Nizamut Adawlnt Present C. Tucker Esq ? SIR, The Court having had before them Judge. your letter No. 1066 of the 6th instant, direct me to observe that you must adhere as closely as possible to the rules laid down in the circular order of the 6th ultimo, but that you are at liberty in communication with the Civil Surgeon, to make such trilling alterations as you may think necessary. As non labouring prisoners are very small in number, and sentenced for short periods, in comparison with prisoners under sentence of labor, change of diet is not so necessary for them. But the diet table will of course be reconsidered on the receipt of the reports regarding its effects on the health of convicts, which the circular calls for at the close of a year. I have, &c. (Signed) F. HAWKINS, Register. (True Copies) R. H. MYTTON, Magistrate. Fort William, The 17th November; 1843.}

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