SANITARIUM This
subject proposals have object has been
tarium for the acute
long under consideration, and various raised, discussed and set aside, whose the provision of a suitable and accessible saniCalcutta resident who is either the subject of been
disease, or
such
degree of cachexia which might remove.
of climate and. air Hill as
FOR CALCUTTA.
lias been
a
Stations?Darjeeling
available
sanitaria;
and Parisnautli?are in existence
by
a
few,
Mahanuddy, has
a
short change
sea-coast stations?Beercool and
pore?may be resorted to the mouth of the where
a
marine sanitarium
Chand
at and Plowden's Island, been
spoken
of
as a
be with advantage
place
placed.
might regards Darjeeling a long, expensive and fatiguing journey is prohibitive to those of moderate means and very delicate health, while the sea-coast stations are subject to the same objection as regards journey, and do not, moreover, furnish such a thorough and decided change as is desirable in many As
cases.
Dr. Palmer tells us that it was in consequence of the failure places to meet the wants of Calcutta, that the journey to Murray, of which
of Beercool and similar
Maliendragiri,
he, Captain given such an interesting account, was undertaken in September last. The geology, physical geography and botany of the hill are described by these gentlemen,
and
ia
Mr. Ball have
interesting report, its
an
advantages
as
climate touched upon, and its various sanitarium fully gone into. The trade of
a
Barvvar, the proposed port of Maliendragiri, is also described, and
a
scheme is sketched out in which Barwar is to be
side residence and
calling place for steamers,
and
a
sea-
Maliendragiri
bill sanitarium.
a
The hill of 30" E.;
it is
Maliendragiri a
of the Madras
knuckle of mountain
sea-coast, and reaching
covering an advantages Murray :
area as
84?-24
-
part of the Eastern Ghauts?is situated in the
Gangam District a
is in lat. 18?-58'-0" N. and
a
Presidency?being,
as
it were,
of the range towards the jutting within 16 miles of it. There is a plateau, out
of at least I5 square mile, 011 the hill, whose sanitarium are thus summed up by Captain
?
"
It possesses
building sites,
at
altitudes
varying
from
3,900
to 4,700 feet above the sea; it receives the sea breeze, fresh from the sea, only 15? miles distant, passing over no malarious tracts, but over an open, well-cultivated district,?it is protected from the west and north-west winds
by
the
ridge
on
which
April 1, 1871.]
OUR SUB-ASSISTANT SURGEONS.
t'ie
Survey Station is built?which winds might be laden with ?alaria, after passing over the dense forests of Central India
ar,d the
supply
hilly tracts of the Saora country ; it has a never-failing of good wholesome water, with peculiar facilities for
storing
the
to any extent; good building stone can be the hill itself; timber for building may be got, of small size, from the country between the hill and Munsame
obtained
on
desar?if
of
large size, from the Purla if not procurable in the
hand; lime, readily
burnt at Barwar
Kimidi Mallius close at western
valleys,
can
be
the sea-coast; firewood is to be
on
had in any quantity and can never become positively dear ; is approached by two roads, one from Mundesar on the southeast, and one from Purla Kimidi on the south-west, both of whifch could be rendered easy and practicable for bearers and Jt
laden beasts,
at
very little expense ; there is
reason
to believe that
the rain-fall is not excessive?certainly not greater than in most ?ther parts of the district ; the temperature during the hot *uontli3 is 20
less
during
ed with
less than in the
degrees
jungle
or
having
and 30
plains,
degrees
fine open situation, not coverlarge masses of jungle close to it,
the rains; it is
a
but consists of fine grassy slopes, ensuring
at
all times
perfect
drainage; Qegrees,
and it possesses an open sea-board of nearly 120 so that most of the winds that will affect it must come
from the sea."
tary 0r
data
are
All this reads well, but
entirely wanting,
on
actual estimate of the healthiness
this healthiness has been demonstrated, must remain where the
abundantly even
were
of
peak
during the visit of its qualifications as
meteorological and sania probable of this locality. Until
which to found
we
fear that the scheme
Mahendragiri
was
enveloped
the committee?in nubibus; but sanitarium more
a
pronounced
than they are, there is one material objection to it?its distance from Calcutta. The very shortest route involves a four
days' journey?a
sea
voyage which is
likely
to be
roughest
at
the very time most people would take their holiday?voluntary or involuntary, and a landing through the surf which would ?f itself deter many from attempting the voyage ; still, it must he conceded that in many cases a sea voyage is of itself resort-
ed to
as a
health,
or
cheap, convenient and accelerating recovery
dysentery
or
objection,
and this is
diarrhoea.
efficient method of from
attack
recruiting
of,
say, fever, The surf therefore remains as the only an
by no means a fatal one. In the case of landing is not through the surf. The Mahendragiri scheme?a sanitary tria juncta in uno?has much to recommend it. It would offer a pleasant alternative, and were Jts healthiness, pleasant climate and convenience demonstrated, and the matter fairly started, it would no doubt become a favourite resort, whether the object was mere change, a holiday, ?r to recruit health. We have Darjeeling as a proved health resort and a permanency?likely, moreover, to be brought within shorter and easier reach in time ; we have Parisnauth as a holiday I'lowden's
Island the
and hot weather resort, to which
their way annually in October;
we
a
few wearied ditchers find
have
sundry pleasant sea-coast
places,?chief
among them Chandpore,?where in certain circumstances health and vigour may be restored. Why not also
have Barwar and Mahendragiri ?
If the scheme
is, however,
to
become a reality, its realization must rest with Calcutta itself. W e cannot expect Government in case to stand with every
by
napkin and tea-spoon. When the health of troops is concerned, it is Government's duty and interest to take the initiative, but a
75
sanitarium for troops has been provided for Lower Bengal; in this
case
assistance in road
What is wanted is of
Calcutta
making is tlio most we can expect. public spirit. Let one or several gentlemen
move
in or
the
matter?build
at
Barwar
and
both?and, live there?demonstrate the
Mahendragiri?one feasibility of the thing, and report progress, and others won't be slow to follow if the experiment is a success. If it is a failure the only comfort we can promise is that it won't be the first, and that it will be ?the
sympathy
one
of the
which will deserve?and
community.
no
doubt obtain