i82 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



hygiene, all combine to form an insurmountable obstacle to 

 rapid progress in sanitary matters. 



The life of the Indian peasant is one long struggle with his 

 environment. The extremes of heat and cold to which he is 

 subjected have led to the adoption of a type of dwelling which 

 from the sanitary standpoint leaves everything to be desired. 

 The question of ventilation is never considered. In both towns 

 and villages the houses, originally crowded together for purposes 

 of defence, still remain in the same undesirable juxtaposition 

 even though the necessity for crowding no longer exists. Cattle 

 and other domestic animals live in close contact with human 

 beings, and water is used indiscriminately for drinking, washing, 

 and bathing. Lastly it must be remembered that more than 

 75 per cent, of the population live " on the land," leading a hand- 

 to-mouth existence, and being absolutely dependent on climatic 

 conditions, especially rainfall, for their very existence. Is it 

 surprising, therefore, that their resistance to disease is lower 

 than that of the European, or that, when an epidemic breaks 

 out amongst a community living under such conditions, it 

 spreads with lightning rapidity, and is difficult to control ? 



What I have written above will enable the reader to 

 appreciate the enormity of the problems before us. Sanitary 

 measures possible and effective in the West are not necessarily 

 possible and effective in India. We must work out our own 

 sanitary salvation. The difficulties before us are many. The 

 ignorance and even hostility of the masses are still fundamental 

 obstacles. But a thousand difficulties need not dismay us. On 

 all sides there is evidence that the more enlightened minds in 

 India have awakened to the importance of sanitation, and the 

 movement in its favour is steadily gaining ground. Both in 

 the Council Chamber and in the columns of the Indian Press 

 constant demands are made for the three great essentials — pure 

 water, pure food, and pure air, and, as the Hon. Mr. Sivasawmy 

 Iyer said in a recent speech, a very hopeful feature in the 

 situation is that the sanitary consciousness of the people them- 

 selves has been aroused. 



This sanitary awakening of India I regard as one of the most 

 important developments of recent years, and one which is 

 fraught with infinite possibilities for the future. Once we have 

 the people with us, instead of against us, the work of sanitary 

 reform will advance by leaps and bounds, especially as regards 



