262 SOMK ASl'KCTS OK TliurUAI, SANITATION 



Our Chief Jiispuctor has established blacksmith's shops, where we repair our sanitary 

 pails, quite a big business (Fig. 84). An eye has to be kept on the conservancy animals, 

 and attempts at the pilfering of fodder checked. The clerical w-ork is heavy, and statistics 

 liave to be prepared for the annual sanitary budget. Prosecutions have to be attended 

 and evidence given. 



Until recently the Sanitary Inspectors had to undertake the poisoning of stray dogs, 

 for there is always a risk of hydrophobia. They have all manner of " orra jobs," and 

 I assure you they earn their pay. Khartoum and Khartoum North cover a large area, 

 and you will not be surprised to hear that our Inspectors are a mounted force. One 

 insisted on tiuir lieing supplied with horses or ponies. We only take men who can ride. 



I remember saying to one of them on his arrival, "I understand you can ride?" 

 " Well, sir," he replii'd, " I won't say I'm a horseman, but I have been practising very 

 diligently on an old cab-horse at home." I fear lie found t\w liery Syrian with wliich lie 

 was presented very different from his Scottish ciiarger ; lint lie soon became an expert, 

 and could now make a jockey sing small. 



Like a woman's, an Inspector's work is never done, init he lias the satisfaction of 

 seeing the good results of his labours. I have no wish to boast, and know that statistics 

 have to be collected over a long period, but, so far as communicable diseases go, I doubt 

 I he new if a healthier city than Khartoum exists in Africa at the present moment {vide piKjc 281). 



Khartoum Something is due to its comparative isolation (anotlier of the Inspector's friends which 

 I omitted from the list), but more is due to the fact that the town was caught young, and 

 early in its new career passed under what some might call a sanitary tyranny. Very 

 different are the conditions from those which rendered the old Khartoum a pest spot, 

 and led the wily Dervish to raze it to the ground and establish his capital at Omdurman. 

 A very great deal is due to our Sanitary Inspectors. I sometimes think that w-heu a 

 Medical Officer of Health is complimented on the state of his district he would do well 

 to recall what Lord Howe said to old George III. after the crowning victory of the 

 glorious First of June. On his own quarter deck he received a jewelled sword and the 

 congratulations of his Sovereign. The tears stood in the old admiral's eyes as he turned 

 and stretched an arm forward to where his sea-dogs were clustered : " It is not I, 

 your Majesty," said he, "it is these gallant fellows." 



Tropical sanitation means war, a ceaseless war, an exhausting war, but, thank God ! 

 if properly waged, a successful war against those conditions which tend to slay the white 

 man and the black. It is Eay Lankester who has said that if we could only apply our 

 present knowledge properly all connnunicable disease could be stamped out in the short 

 course of fifty years. With certain reservations as regards some tropical disorders, 

 I heartily concur in this optimistic view. What we require is education, such legislation 

 as will crush the cultured but ignorant fanatic and aid tin; worker, a devotion to the 

 cause, and a well-trained band of helpers. 



Foremost amongst these stands the Sanitary Inspector, and thus it is that I trust 

 we may soon see him in ever-increasing numbers taking up tlial white man's burden, 

 which of all burdens is perhaps the noblest to bear. 



Then, and then only, may w^e, in part at least, experience on earth a foretaste of 

 that which we are promised hereafter: "There slnill l)e no more death, neither sorrow 

 nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away." 



