THE SANITARY AWAKENING OF INDIA 183 



the avoidance, prevention, and suppression of those four great 

 scourges — plague, malaria, cholera, and dysentery — in dealing 

 with which we are hopelessly handicapped without the 

 assistance and co-operation of the Indian public. Herein lies 

 the importance of education of the masses. I shall devote, 

 therefore, a few lines to a short account of certain recent 

 developments in the educational policy of the Government of 

 India, to which allusion was made by Mr. Montague in his 

 Indian Budget speech on August 7 last. In a resolution dated 

 February 21, 191 3, the Government of India drew attention to 

 three matters in which education in the past has been imperfect. 

 One of these was the teaching of hygiene in schools and 

 colleges, and attention to the personal hygiene of the students. 

 With a view to remedying obvious defects and ensuring 

 practical instruction, the Education Department has commended 

 to local Governments a thorough inquiry, by a small committee 

 of experts, into school and college hygiene ; the scope of the 

 inquiry to comprehend not merely medical inspection, but 

 likewise the inclusion of practical instruction. For various 

 reasons it is considered desirable to make these courses of 

 instruction voluntary, at any rate in collegiate institutions, and 

 it is felt that if such courses are voluntary it would be as well to 

 introduce the influence of some external agency, which by its 

 reputation and its rewards will be able to encourage private 

 endeavour. Such an agency already exists in the St. John 

 Ambulance Association, which might well provide the initial 

 stimulus, appealing strongly, as it does, to both teachers and 

 taught. Domestic hygiene is now a recognised branch of the 

 Association's work, and on this subject useful literature and 

 instruction could be supplied to the schools. Instruction in 

 " first-aid " might also be given, and active workers in the 

 provincial branches of the Association would be encouraged to 

 afford assistance in the inspection of pupils and of school 

 premises, and in giving practical instruction in all matters 

 connected with personal hygiene. It is also suggested that 

 special training in hygiene should form part of the curriculum 

 for teachers. 



The practical details of the scheme will be worked out when 

 reports have been received from the Committees of Inquiry 

 which may be appointed by local Governments : meanwhile the 

 Government of India have approached the Executive Committee 



