70 On the Sickness and Mortality 



into it off the parade, and preserves the Native Cavalry and Infantry 

 lines from being swamped or flooded after heavy falls of rain. In the 

 construction of this water-course, there was a very obvious over- 

 sight committed, in throwing up the earth on both sides so as to form 

 embankments, and effectually prevent the water from running off the 

 parade, and in this manner, to render nugatory its existence as a 

 drain : this error has been pointed out and rectified by the removal 

 of the earth thrown up to the northern or parade side, and it is now 

 an efficient channel for receiving, and conveying away the water which 

 flows southwards from the parade ground to a tank or jheel to the 

 westward. The declivity of the whole country is so easy and gentle, 

 that a sufficient fall is not nearer than a mile and a half south of the 

 cantonments. It has been recommended as part of a plan for 

 the effectual drainage of Kurnaul, that a broad and deep channel 

 be cut from the western extremity of the ditch in front of the 

 lines and south of the parade to this distance, so as to carry off 

 the water which remains on the parade ground to the north and 

 in front of the Dragoon and Horse Artillery stables ; a most desirable 

 object, as this is one of the most prolific sources of the worst cases of 

 remittent fever, and so concentrated is the miasma at this particular 

 locality, that it becomes disagreeably perceptible to the senses ; the 

 men in their lines were in the habit of shutting down the jhamps at 

 nightfall, to exclude the malaria, which they compared to a fishy 

 stench. Can it be surprising, that the European Dragoons and 

 Horse Artillerymen should suffer, and become victims to a pestilence 

 which made itself so obvious to the senses ? It would be surprising had 

 they escaped. 



The principal measure of prevention which suggests itself on a sup- 

 position, that the chief cause of the sickness and mortality of the 

 troops at Kurnaul, has been shewn to be the large body of surface 

 water which remains unabsorbed for so many days after heavy falls 

 of rain, — is improved drainage. 



The facility of improving the drainage of the cantonments of 

 Kurnaul has been pointed out. 



From the north of the parade ground, there is, though not a 

 very considerable slope or fall towards the south, but sufficient 

 to carry off the rain in this direction, and made evident by the 

 ground around, and to the south of the barracks of the 1 st European 



