J 839.] Dr. Burkes Reports. 65 



By the returns for four years, the minimum of sickness and deaths 

 •occurs in February. January and it are the driest months. The maxi- 

 mum of sickness and deaths occurs in September ; being the cessation 

 of the rains, when the exhalations have brought the surface to the 

 consistence of mud — a state that appears especially to generate the 

 miasmata producing fevers, &c. 



Berhampore. 



With respect to the localities of the Stations "as affecting their 

 salubrity or otherwise," as required by the Committee, I have in 

 reference to the return of the sick, &c. at the several Stations, given 

 at the commencement, further to add, that at the Station of Berham- 

 pore, the Barracks are so placed, that one particularly is close to a 

 large stagnant tank, into which the sewers of the Barracks and 

 necessaries, &c, empty themselves, so that in the dry and hot season 

 especially, the men are enveloped in the stench from it. That the 

 influence of its exhalations spreads far, I have no doubt. The malaria 

 from it, as well as numerous other sources, is of course the active cause 

 of much of the mischief that infests the Station of Berhampore. 



For the period of four years, from 1830 to 1833, inclusive, the 

 average proportions of deaths to strength per cent was, at Berhampore, 



Officers 7*62 per cent per annum. 



Men 677 



Women 5*71 



Children 809 



Cholera prevailed epidemically in Berhampore in 1829 and 1830, 

 and commenced in the temporary sheds recently erected, (not far from 

 the great tank before mentioned) for part of His Majesty's troops ; 

 after which it appeared in the women's quarters— a low one-storied 

 brick-building; afterwards on the ground story; and then in the 

 upper story of the Barracks next the great tank, &c. 



Fort William. 



In the Station of Fort William, in the Barracks generally occupied 

 by His Majesty's troops, the apartments for the men are deficient 

 in height and ventilation. The buildings are too crowded together. 

 The estimate of space, and of domestic convenience, has been too con- 

 fined for the climate. 



From the crowding of the buildings, and height and proximity 

 of the fortifications, the radiation of heat is hot only very great, but 

 there is prevented the dissipation of those malarious vapours of which 

 there appears to be so copious a supply from various sources in Fort 

 William. 



K 



