MANUAL OF THE nIlAGIR] DISTRICT. 77 



compared with 39 in 1874. From January to May ague, CHAP, iv, 

 rheumatism, dysentery, diarrhoea, and bronchitis prevailed. It PART III. 

 will be observed that the numbers applying for treatment are weilington 

 greatly on the increase (in 1876), and the Medical Officer of Medical 

 Coonoor has represented the totally insufficient accommodation Climate &c 



there available. It has been recommended through the Canton- 



ment Committee to Government that a Civil Dispensary or 

 detached hospital should be built at Wellington. 



There is abundance of excellent water at and about Wellington, water. 

 For ablution purposes, connected with the barracks, there is a supply. 

 large masonry reservoir on the hill, about 80 feet above the 

 barracks on the eastern slope. The water is brought by artificial 

 channels from the neighbourhood of Doddabetta, and is conveyed 

 by hydrostatic pressure through iron pipes to the ablution rooms 

 and Staff Sergeants^ quarters, cook-houses, and married soldiers' 

 out-houses, and finally to the wash-house at the hospital. This 

 water is not fit for drinking, but for that purpose water is 

 obtained, of abundant quantity and excellent quality, from two 

 springs wliich arise beneath the rocks about 300 yards from the 

 barracks to the east and north. Here the springs are enclosed 

 with a masonry wall and protected by a small shady forest of 

 trees. The sun's rays can never reach it, and the water is 

 consequently cool and refreshing. It is collected at this spot 

 in a cask with cover and lock and key, arranged so that the 

 overflow is constantly passing into a channel conveying it to a 

 reservoir, within about 30 feet of the barracks, from which it is 

 conveyed by water-carriers to the filters and cook-houses. This 

 a,rrangement has its objections : roots of trees get into the 

 masonry channel ; the water is contaminated, and repairs are 

 expensive : whereas, if there was an iron pipe from the spring to 

 the reservoir, this would be avoided. Again, the reservoir is 

 not what it should be. At present there is merely a trough, and 

 the flow of 380 gallons per hour passes off as waste. 



The rations of the troops consist of beef five times a week and Commissariat 

 mutton twice ; this is supplied by contract, the animals being ^^PP^'^^- 

 brought from the plains of Coimbatore a short time before being 

 required, as it has been found that keeping stock on the Hills 

 does not answer. The animals suff'er from bowel-complaint and 

 rapidly fall oft" in flesh. The vegetables consist of potatoes and 

 onions as a regular issue and the addition of other vegetables in 

 season at the time. The bread is made at Coonoor and is of good 

 quality. Beer and porter are supplied by the Commissariat for 

 the troops, home-brewed, and of good quality. Locally-brewed 



, beer is not used, as in the North-West Provinces. Excellent beer 

 is brewed at Kiissowlie and JMuree, and is drunk generally by 



i 



