of seats, and supplied with means of flushing. Gas has been introduced at several points.

Prince of Wales Redoubt.-Inlets for ventilation of the men's rooms were the principal sanitary measure effected.

Old Granby Barracks.-Inlets and outlet shafts for air renovation were introduced in each room, and the new ventilating fire grates were erected; gas, also, with ventilated burners, was laid on. New ovens were provided for the kitchens. The latrines and urinals were much improved, and furnished with flushing means.

Maker Heights Barracks.-The new artificial system of ventilation, with the remodelled fire-grates, was also here introduced in the men's rooms, and means for varied cooking were furnished.

Bull Point Barracks.-The ventilation of the rooms was improved as above. The cells at this station were also ventilated more effectually by shafts through the roof of each, and by gratings opening into the corridor. An oven was set up in the cookhouse.

Mount Wise Barracks.-The main improvement effected here was, considering these defective buildings for barrack purposes, and their site, the reduction of the number of men in occupation so far as to afford each soldier 600 cubic feet of air. The new artificial system of ventilation was introduced. The fire-grates of the men's rooms were remodelled.

The Raglan Barracks.-The ventilation of the rooms, in certain respects, was rendered further satisfactory, and that of the guard-room improved.

The Garrison Hospital at Stoke.-This establishment, so objectionable as to its site, was alluded to in considerable detail in the Report of the previous year; and it does not, on this occasion, appear necessary to enter into particulars in respect of its requirements and interior economy, as measures are in progress with a view to its being placed upon the footing of the new system of a general hospital. The unfavourable circumstances connected with its position, however, form the subject of animadversion by the Regimental Medical Officers anew this year; but the Deputy-Inspector-General seems not to think that any of them are altogether irremediable. He is of opinion that some of the sources of objection might, indeed, be altogether removed, whilst others admit of great improvement. The main objections and suggested remedies he specifies side by side, as follows, viz. :—

A proposal to have this cemetery closed was submitted by the Director-General of the Army Medical Department (Dr. Gibson) to the Government authorities in February, 1862.

The sanitary duties of the garrisons were so effectively carried out on all points, under the unremitting and vigilant superintendence of the Medical Officers, that no disease at any time among the troops could be attributed to defect of hygienic arrangements. The strength of the garrisons having been much of an average with that of the preceding year, the circumstances of cubic accommodation for the men in barracks generally and the sick in hospital varied little from the averages then prevailing. The ration and water supplies were as good in quality as previously, the latter having been sufficient for all ablution and culinary purposes. A reduction in the night duties of the men was gained, it is represented, by the employment of the Royal Dockyard Police in augmented numbers, and the troops had come, thereby, to benefit considerably.

On the abstract health question of the year, the Principal Medical Officer points out the circumstance that, of a total of admissions to hospital amounting to 4,287, in an average annual strength of 3,823, as many as 1,667 were numbered of the venereal class alone, and, very exceptional in ordinary experience, no fewer than 235 of itch. Thus, he observes, "diseases attributable to vice have far out-numbered those which arise from ordinary climatic causes; and next in frequency were those resulting from low associations on the part of the soldier."

The odium of prostitution has maintained its prominence here as at the other great seaport and garrison towns, and continues to involve not only the question of ruined constitution of individuals, but a weighty consideration to the State for non-effective duty men, and a burdened pension-list of invalided soldiers.

Correlatively with the foregoing vice-that of intemperance, as regards the garrison during this year, is adverted to by Dr. Gordon as having been comparatively modified; and he observes the fact of the much greater expense of spirituous liquors than at the generality of foreign stations, such being no doubt one chief cause of the proportionately small amount of drunkenness that appears in the Returns to have come under notice; whilst another reason is instanced in the limited residue of daily pay at the soldier's disposal. From these two circumstances, therefore, the direct effect of intemperance in producing disease was thought to be very small; but, unfortunately, as he represents, the gain in this respect was far outweighed by the facilities and temptations for other immorality which beset the soldier at every turn in a garrison town.

THE SOUTH-WESTERN DISTRICT OF ENGLAND.

THE Principal Medical Officer of this District, Dr. Hume (now InspectorGeneral), in his Annual Report on the Barracks and Hospitals, makes allusion to all the main sanitary conditions attaching to them. In reference to the cubic accommodation, he reports that the construction of most of the barracks did not admit of the full allowance of 600 cubic feet per man, as prescribed by the new Regulations; but, as many of them were not occupied fully to the old numbers painted on the doors, the soldiers reaped the advantage, and their health generally did not appear to suffer from insufficiency of accommodation within the rooms at any station.

He has submitted an Occupation Return, as made on his last sanitary inspection, and its averages are to be accepted as those holding pretty closely for the year. From the bearings of this Table, he has observed that the men had a cubic rate in barracks averaging from 450 to 500 feet each, and in some instances even more; that the guard-rooms generally admitted of about 400 such feet for each man on this duty, and the solitary cells for prisoners 550 cubic feet.

In respect of the cubic accommodation which prevailed in the hospitals of the Command, he has given the following Table as an approximate of the mean ratio at the several stations, founded on the monthly averages of sick in wards.

At the Principal Medical Officer's periodical sanitary inspections throughout the District, various more special defects in ventilation of barracks, guardrooms, cells, and outhouses, were pointed out by him, were brought to the notice of the authorities, and many of them were rectified.

Under the head of " Cleanliness," Dr. Hume reports matters as having been tolerably good generally; but, in his December series of Inspections, he had occasion to observe that in many places due regard had not been paid to this most important subject. In some barracks, dust and dirt were found under the bedsteads, blankets were observed to be dirty and torn, sheets also dirty, and the rooms and passages not kept so clean as they ought to be. These evils were severally represented by him to the local military authorities.

The barracks at Portsmouth have now mostly been lighted with gas; one or two exceptions, however, still there exist.

Upon the concomitant question of warmth to the barrack-rooms, Dr. Hume refers to the necessity having arisen for an increased allowance of fuel at times of the winter; and this, as inferred, subject to the working of the new ventilating fire-grates.

The barracks and hospitals of the District, generally, were supplied with lavatory accommodation of a suitable nature, and had become furnished with baths, he states, with few exceptions.

The kitchens and cooking-utensils throughout the Command appear to have been sufficient, and kept in good order generally; and the ration supplies were fully approved of, save that the very universally accordant opinion of medical authority held as to the insufficiency of three-quarters of a pound of meat a-day for a soldier.

Upon the sanitary conditions of latrines, urinals, &c., and with regard to the many old constituted barracks of this District, the Inspecting Medical Officer reports that, though not thoroughly satisfactory, they were improved this year in many instances; and that recurring complaints were not so numerous as in the preceding, all cesspits being much more frequently discharged of their contents.

The military duties appear not to have affected the health of the troops in any appreciable sinister degree-the night ones in the Dockyard garrison not recurring oftener than to admit of the soldier having four and five consecutive nights in bed; many more falling to his lot and comfort at the out-stations.

An especial boon was conferred by the Government in the opening of a small, and so far extemporized, hospital for the sick wives and children of the garrison of Portsmouth. This embryo institution of the kind is situated

intermediately to the Portsea and the Portsmouth Barracks, on the so-called "milldam." A nurse had been appointed, and the establishment had been in order of occupation for about the last three months. The arrangement is only as a temporary measure, to meet the humane and pressing requirements of so large a garrison; it being the intention of the Government to build and organise a permanent female hospital for the station.

From the Regimental Sanitary Reports of the year, specially, are gleaned the following various points commented on at different stations.

In Portsmouth, Surgeon Perry, R.A., adverts emphatically to the prevalence of venereal disease there, and bears testimony to the benefit and advantage of the legislative enactment at Malta in contrast of results. He writes: "Medical officers are unable to grapple with the evil unless police authorities aid in restriction upon the source whence it is derived the only means whereby a great and really terrible evil may be lessened, if not abolished, and a better state of public health become the result. Vice is not legalised by its effects being carefully watched and checked; and hence, if the vocation is well known, the mischief arising from such a calling should be under police control as much as any nuisance affecting the public health."

At Hilsea, Assistant-Surgeon Hopwood, R.A., the medical officer in charge of the troops (Artillery), adverting to the works of extended barrack accommodation at this neighbouring outpost of Portsmouth, states the bath and ablution means to be excellent, and the cooking-ranges unexceptionable. The new barracks here were in process of constructing on the hut principle of the Barrack and Hospital Improvement Commission. A new and commodious hospital was arranged for, and other important sanitary works were contemplated.

At Chichester, Surgeon-Major Dr. Gibb reiterates complaint of the very defective drainage of the barrack site, it remaining still in stati quo, as pronounced by the Barrack and Hospital Sanitary Commission in 1859; and to effect as follows-that the barracks are most imperfectly drained, and that there is nothing but superficial surface-drainage in all states of imperfection; that the whole arrangement is as defective as it well can be, and requires a thorough reconsideration, the conclusion of the Commission being that it appeared necessary to proceed at once to the drainage of the barracks. Obstacles, however, are supposed to have involved the proposal, and it is believed the question now holds whether ultimately to continue the locality as a military station. In accordance with the recommendations of the Commission, all other defects pointed out by them in the above year at this post have been gradually remedied.

At Winchester, the ablution establishment, consisting of dark, underground chambers, damp and uninviting, was the subject of representation to the local military authorities; and extra gas convenience was recommended for the purpose of rendering the accommodation practicable even by day.

In the yet rough and very rudimentary stage of the soldiers' culinary art, the cookery of soup (still the more general predilection of the men) engaged the attention of Dr. Alexander Smith, the Staff-Surgeon in charge at Winchester, whose memorandum on the subject and receipt for the better preparing of the soup diets may be subjoined :—

"MEMORANDUM.

"Winchester, 11th November, 1861. "The accompanying is a copy of the Instructions for preparing soldiers' soup diets, which have been in use at this place since June of the present year, and which are based on the latest rules for preparing similar diets in military hospitals. As the allowance for messing in barracks is not sufficient to give all that is recommended in the hospital soup diets, the sugar has been struck out and only as much of the mixed vegetables (such of them as may be at the time procurable) used as the sum over for small vegetables will purchase. The full quantity of barley is always used, and the object is to bring up the allowance of vegetables as nearly as possible to the proportions named in the Instructions, consistent with the means at the disposal of the Company. In Winchester every Company has on the average baked meat on two days in the week, and the gain on these days from small vegetables not being used is carried to the account of the days having soup diets.

"We find here that the richness of the soup in vegetables depends on the price of potatoes, as the allowance of that important article of diet is kept as high as possible throughout the year.

"The advantages of the system I have endeavoured to introduce at Winchester

are

"1st. That the soup is made on a uniform system, and, as much as the soldiers' pay will admit of, according to the best known receipt; as nothing can be better than that now ordered for military hospitals.

"2nd. That by following exactly the rules for managing the cooking, any soldier may cook well after a few trials, and therefore the men will not have to suffer, as they hitherto have done, from frequent change of cooks."

QUANTITIES of WATER required for Soup, according to the Number of Diets:

Quarts. Pints.

Quarts. Pints.

1 Diet

2 Diets

3 Diets

INSTRUCTIONS for Preparing Soup Diets.

"1st. The barley for the soup must be steeped over night in the quantity of water required for the number of diets.

"2nd. At 8 30 A.M., put into the boiler (previously carefully cleaned) the given quantity of water and barley, and the meat (which should be first washed); stir from time to time, to prevent the barley from burning. Wash the vegetables, and carefully cut them into very small pieces.

"3rd. At 10 A.M., reduce the fire by partially shutting the damper or opening the furnace-door, so as to cause the contents of the boiler to simmer slowly; carefully remove all the fat or skum which may have risen to the top, and then add the vege

tables.

"4th. At 11 A.M., remove the meat from the boiler, and let the soup continue to boil slowly mix the flour with cold water till a very thin and smooth paste is formed.

"5th. At 12.30 P.M. stir the paste of flour and water into the soup, replace the meat in the boiler, and let the whole boil for half an hour. "At 1 P.M., it will be sufficiently cooked.

"Winchester, 25th June, 1861."

"ALEX. SMITH, M.D., Staff-Surgeon.

At Parkhurst Barracks (Isle of Wight) the objectionable position of the latrices, so central and adjacent to the officers' barracks, has remained un