138 Timehri. 
Obviously, therefore, the first thing to do on estates is to abolish all open 
trenches for drinking purposes. 
What then are we to substitute for these same trenches? Concrete tanks 
undoubtedly meet the difficulty so far as a fairly pure supply of water is con- 
cerned ; but then these tanks must be within a convenient distance of the various 
dwellings. Tanks or vats placed at the ends of every range in the yards would 
also answer the purpose admirably. 
But, of course, these suggestions will be at once met with a how! of disapproval 
on the ground of expense! It would be well worth while for the authorities of 
some of these estates to work out the actual cost caused by loss of labour, in 
dollars and cents, incurred by estates with a defective water supply and conse- 
quent high sickness and mortality rate from water-borne diseases. The 
initial cost of supplying proper receptacles for drinking water would no doubt in 
the first instance appear to be excessive ; but then it must be borne in mind that 
it would only be an initial expense, whereas without it, there is every year the 
same heavy death-and-sickness-toll to place against the one initial outlay. 
T believe that on Pln. Blairmont, Berbice, where at one time there was an 
excessive amount of bowel diseases, a large concrete tank was erected, and water 
therefrom led by pipes to the various ranges : so that a pure supply of drinking 
water was within the reach of all. Since that time I am told there has been a 
notable reduction in the number of bowel complaints. 
Tf one estate can do this, why not others 2 
Some years ago I was connected with an estate on which there was also a 
large percentage of bowel complaints. As the result of investigations I made, I 
found that a very large proportion of these cases came from a series of ranges 
the occupants of which obtained their drinking water from an open trench, one 
side of which was used as the public latrine, of which fact there was no mistake, 
as it was perfectly evident both to sight and smell! So that, practically, these 
people were drinking the water from their own cesspool! The reason for the large 
incidence of bowel complaints amongst the occupants of these ranges then 
became perfectly obvious. 
Surely, theretore, it would be well worth a large initial outlay to remedy this 
state of affairs, and save many thousands of dollars by a diminished sickness- 
and-death-rate ! 
Where it would be difficult to erect large concrete tanks, a series of smaller ones 
in close proximity to the various dwellings might be put up. Or even vats or 
tanks in connection with the dwelling ranges themselves would be preferable to 
the antiquated open trench system. 
Dr. Ferguson suggested to me that large reservoirs some distance away from 
the estates might be dug, and if possible the bottom and sides concreted, or 
well puddled. These, of course, would have to be properly protected from all 
human and animal contact, and would need to have the water led to the various 
yards by a system of pipes, as the labourers would not go any great distance for 
