FORMER IGNORANCE OF METEOROLOGY. 55 



ably still have a very great deal to learn upon these 

 important branches of science. It might, for example, 

 reasonably have been supposed, that at all events 

 expeditions fitted out under the auspices of the leading 

 European governments would have been well advised 

 in these matters; but in general it was the very re- 

 verse, and immense loss of life was incurred from the 

 want of what now seem the most obvious precautions. 



The records of British military and naval experiences 

 in Africa, and in the East and West Indies, are full 

 of warning and instruction in this respect. Sanitary 

 science was, however, a thing that can hardly be said 

 to have had any existence a few years ago. 



Indeed, if an accurate return could be obtained of 

 the thousands of lives that have been sacrificed to 

 incompetence and ignorance of the elementary rules 

 of this science, it would be one of the most appalling 

 documents that has ever been published and in defence 

 of British officers it may be stated (if that can be of 

 any satisfaction to us) that French records show that 

 they did not do these things one whit better there. * 



In the first place it was the general opinion in former 

 days that strategic considerations often obliged troops 

 to be quartered in low-lying, unhealthy positions, when 

 a comparatively short march to the hills would, in 

 many cases, have kept their men in good health and 

 condition, ready at any moment to descend upon the 

 plains, and act with the vigour and decision of which 

 healthy men alone are capable. 



It is true that under the stress of actual war this 

 might not always have been practicable; but in these 



* The French invasion of Madagascar in 1895 ^ s a gd modern 

 instance in point. 



