Miscellaneous. 



400 



[June 1907. 



(b) There is not sufficient ventilation above nor below, in front nor behind 

 the cubicles or sleeping rooms. 



(c) The verandahs, being also kitchens, frequently are the receptacle for all 

 sorts of rubbish. 



After mature consideration and ample proof of its benefits I now believe that 

 there is but one ideal type of lines which is advisable in the best interests of both 

 employer and coolie, namely the lines which consist of simple roof on supports, 

 under which the cubicles are built, none of the line partitions are over nine, 

 feet high, all cubicle floors are 3 ft. 6 ins. from the ground and open [underneath. 



Of about 15 estates with which I am familiar, the healthiest is one on which 

 the above type of lines are in occupation, and I believe I am correct when I state 

 that the only type of disease which has affected that estate of recent years, has been 

 epidemic in character and introduced from without. As, however, on many estates 

 the old-fashoined type of lines have been erected, I would suggest that they be 

 altered as soon as possible, by the removal of the upper two layers of side 

 attaps and the removal of the attaps which extend to the ground (and so close 

 the space under the benches), and that they be replaced as soon as possible by 

 one of those suggested. 



An excessive height off the ground is almost as obnoxious as excessive 

 proximity to the earth, because if the lines are too high the underneath will be 

 used as a hen-house or store, in all human probability. Of the two forms 

 of ventilation — the overhead and the underneath— the latter is perhaps the more to 

 be insisted upon as we know that animal C Oi gas as exhaled, is most poisonous, and 

 also that its specific gravity is greater than air, therefore, in the absence of draughts 

 by under ventilation, it is obviously only a matter of time and opportunity to 

 become suffocated by it. 



We now come to the question of Sanitation at the lines. Everyone who has 

 had anything to do with the Tamil coolie is aware of his roaming habits under 

 certain circumstances, his love of variety and the fields, or preferably the road or 

 pathway, but that Tamil coolies or Chinese coolies or any other coolies cannot be 

 gently but firmly educated I absolutely decline to believe. 



Now under existing sanitary — perhaps I might indeed say insanitary — arrange- 

 ments on the majority of estates in this country, I submit that the unfortunate 

 coolie who gets " a tummyache " at say I a. m., should not be blamed by the 

 inspecting doctor or agent the next day, in the garish sunlight, for filthy habits ; 

 in other words " until proper sanitary accomodation becomes a feature of evary 

 coolie lines in the country and a special coolie be detailed to look after the matter 

 disease must continue to exist amongst the whole class." 



The type of latrine to be erected is of the simplest, an attap-roofed shed 

 elevated above the surrounding ground level, with a trench for buckets or to be 

 filled in with a mixture of dry earth and lime daily to a depth of about three 

 inches, the trench protected from storm-water by means of ordinary earth drains 

 around it, and sufficiently removed in its situation from the main water supply 

 to prevent contamination— this will suffice to prevent an enormous amount of illness. 



Lines are generally, in my opinion, better without any open earth drains 

 whatever, they only serve as receptacles for all sorts of filth and rubbish. The very 

 fact of a convenient hole to throw things into running all round the lines, is quite 

 sufficient inducement to create a bad habit amongst a much higher type of 

 -individual than the average coolie. My ideal surroundings for lines would be 

 short-cropped grass, gravel, laterite, or coarse ashes, not very expensive luxuries 

 any of them. I would run French drains at right angles, from the kuckis right 



