In regard to sanitary arrangements, great efforts have been made at vast cost in recent years to improve all the hygienic conditions, such as drains, ventilation, means of ablu tion, recreation, circulation of air, etc. The result has been very apparent in the reduced rate of mortality. Army-physicians recommend 600 cubic ft. of room space per soldier; and this is the standard now demanded in all practicable cases by the war office. It has been estimated that a new barrack for 1000 footguards in London would cost £150,000, bexides land, the cost of which would depend wholly on the particular site selected. The necessity for grounds for exercises, stores, surgery, offices, etc., renders a barrack a very costly congeries of buildings. Twenty acres may be taken as the mini mum space needed for 1000 men. In relation to all the various subjects of barrack-life, a committee of military officers has drawn up a most comprehensive scheme of reform; but unfortunately the cost of making these improvements would be so enormous, that nothing better than a very gradual adoption can be expected.
The finest existing B. in this country are perhaps those at Aldershott, attached to the camp noticed in another article. See ALDEnsitorm CAMP. The buildings extend in two long lines, branching out of the Farnborough and Farnham road, with a large parade-ground between them. The infantry and artillery B. are on the n. side of this
space, and the cavalry B. ou the south. The infantry B. are divided into blocks, forming each a spacious quadrangle, with a court yard in the center. Each block is a complete barrack for a full regiment, with all the men's rooms, store-rooms, schoolrooms, offices, etc. The officers' rooms are, however, separate, and occupy open spaces between the blocks of buildings. All the four sides of each quadrangle are occupied by various rooms and buildings; the men's living and sleeping rooms being mostly on the side next to the parade-ground. The sleeping-rooms, each for 24 men, are very large and airy; the washing-rooms are ample and well-fitted; and the cooki?g-rooms will each cook for 350 men. Dry play-grounds and drill-yards under glass roofs are provided. A broad bal cony outside every range of sleeping-rooms enables the soldiers to look out upon these grounds. The married soldiers and their wives are comfortably provided for, in rooms wholly apart from the rest. The artillery and cavalry B. resemble in their general fea tures those for the infantry.
By the military forces localization act of 1872, £3,500,000 is to be raised and expended in building and adapting B. for the 70 sub-district brigades among which the infantry is now divided.