Duty.
Drill.
Epidemics.
Phthisis
pulmonalis.
Hospital
ventilation.
Condition of
the drainage
and latrines.
Water
-supply.
SAUGOR CIRCLE.
119
tiles of the roof. In front of each hut there is a small courtyard about 10 or 12 feet square,
formed by bamboo mattings, rather too high, and which to a great extent impedes the free perflation
of air, but owing to caste feeling privacy must be secured; however residence in them has not
proved injurious to the health of the inmates.
Ventilation and drainage .—The ventilation, as noted in the last paragraph, is considerable
through the roof and air-holes in huts. The average number of occupants in huts was four, allow
-ing each individual 202.50 cubic feet. Ventilation of guard-room and cells is good. The drainage
of the lines is by the natural surface drains, which owing to the sloping nature of the ground suffice
to carry off storm-water rapidly, and no pools or other lodgment occurs. Waste water from the
hut enclosures is caught in earthen vessels outside, and thus prevented passing into the street
drains and percolating into the ground. The water is removed morning and evening.
Water-supply .—There are three large masonry wells in the lines, usually affording an
ample supply of good water. During part of past year all ran dry. A new well some distance
off was sunk, which gave sufficient water until the rains. Now all are well supplied.
Analysis of principal well gave—
Ventilation
and drainage.
Water
-supply.
Physical properties .—Slightly opalescent when looked through a depth of one foot.
Qualitative test .—Lime present, precipitate being formed on adding the reagent. Chlorine
present, sulphuric acid none, ammonia a trace.
Quantitative .—Chlorine 2.132 grains per gallon, "oxidisable matters" required 1.98
milligrammes of oxygen per litre. Total hardness 7.35 of Clarke's scale.
Diet .—Provisions have been plentiful, but sold at enhanced rates owing to exportation of
food-grain and partial failure of crops. The average prices of grain during the year were as
follows :—wheat 12 seers per rupee, rice 7 seers, dhall 4 seers, and cholum 13 seers. Vegetables
are always plentiful and cheap. Amount of rice money was Rupees 6-5-4 for the year.
Clothing .—The clothing of the men during the year has been well adapted to the climate
and consisted of a white drill during the hot, and cloth during the cold season. Change in clothi
n g i s r e c o m m e n d e d b y m e w h e n n e c e s s a r y .
Foot-soreness .—Great care is taken in the regiment that the men are supplied with
properly fitting boots, and the cases of foot-oreness have in consequence been few. No represen
-tation was called for.
Duty.—The usual duties of a Cavalry corps. The number of nights in bed at head-quarters
was 5.30.
Drill.—The drills take place for an hour or so morning and evening during the season. The
recruits were drilled three times a day, viz., morning three hours, midday one hour, and evening
two hours. I noticed at my weekly inspections that they were failing in health, and represented
the matter to the Commandant, when the midday drill was omitted.
Exercises.—The morning and evening stables in a Cavalry regiment interfere with the men
engaging in games, &c. generally, but they keep up a large vegetable garden, which affords
healthy occupation to a considerable number of them. Some men also practise for the annual
sports in the regiment, such as tent-pegging, &c.
Diet.
Foot-soreness.
Exercises.
Clothing.
Vaccination.
Vaccination .—All men or the regiment have been successfully vaccinatecd, and all recruits
who have joined during the past year not bearing distinct small-pox marks also operated on.
Total vaccinations during the year 59, successful 50, unsuccessful 9. No cases of small-pox
occurred among the men, although the disease was prevalent in the villages near the lines.
Epidemics .—Agues during last year attacked nearly every resident in Saugor; the recruits of
the regiment suffered much more than the older men.
Phthisis pulmonalis .—Three cases of phthisis pulmonalis occurred. One case was sent
from here to Secunderabad, where the patient died; another on sick leave from the detachment
at Jubbulpore, also ended in death; and a third case occurred in a young sepoy, who has so far
recovered as to be able to return to duty. No cause, hereditary or otherwise, known.
Hospital ventilation .—The hospital (new standard plan) is ventilated by 12 doors and 12
large ventilators near the roof, which admit ample fresh air in all parts of the ward. There has
overcrowding in the hospital.
Condition of the drainage and latrines .—The natural surface drainage round the hospital
is good owing to the sloping nature of the ground, and no lodgment of water occurred in its
vicinity during the rains. The hospital latrines are conducted strictly on the dry-earth system.
Water-supply .—Water obtained from a new well in the hospital compound, which was of
good quality and ample in quantity during the year.
General conclusions .—With the exception of the usual annual prevalence of fevers, the
health of the regiment has been good. These fevers seldom or never inflict permanent injury
to health; the spleen very seldom becomes hypertrophied; seldom also is there seen that
malarial cachexia so common in ague of other parts. I am glad to have to report the entire
immunity of the regiment from three years of epidemic cholera in the station and district,
as also from small-pox. The number of deaths too have been small. The number of admissions
into hospital has increased, but the strength of the regiment has also increased by recruiting.
General
conclusions.