54
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
2. Two or three small parties, under non-commissioned officers, have been detached
into the districts for the purpose of guarding treasuries ;
with these exceptions there have been no detachments from
head-quarters.
3. There has been a very marked deficiency of rain during the year, only about a third
of the average fall having been gauged, and the climate has,
therefore, been unusually dry. The heat during April and
May was very great, and during the monsoon months the temperature was higher than
usual owing to the want of moisture. During the last two months the cold has been greater
than I have ever previously experienced in Sholápur, and strong, dry, easterly and north
- e a s t e r l y w i n d s h a v e p r e v a i l e d .
Detachment.
Climate.
Lines, available space.
4. The available space has been found quite sufficient
during the year.
The nuisance complained of in former reports, viz., that of the people resorting to a,
nullah in dangerously close proximity to the lines for purposes
of nature has been almost entirely put a stop to during the past
year, peons having been placed at various points by the municipality to prevent the practice.
The general sanitary state of the Sadder Bazaar is fairly satisfactory; but no public latrines
have been erected, though plans and estimates for them have been prepared, and sites chosen.
I trust that in my next report I may be able to say that this want has been remedied.
5. There has been no change made in these arrangements during the year. The lines
are kept scrupulously clean, and the latrines regularly cleaned
out, and the nightsoil removed in closed carts and buried at
a distance. The Sanitary Commissioner, at his recent inspection, expressed an opinion that
the latrines, especially those for the women and children, were too far from the lines; but I
do not think they could safely be brought nearer, and, even as they now are, I believe
the water in one of the line wells, which is situated almost immediately below the male
latrines, is very liable to be contaminated through soakage from them. The latrines are not
free from odour, but I believe it to be unavoidable, owing to their construction and the use
of water for ablution purposes.
6. Notwithstanding the very scanty rainfall, no inconvenience has been felt in the
matter of water-supply during the greater part of the year, which
has been, in great measure, owing to the completion of the new
well alluded to in last year's report, which has yielded an ample supply of, apparently, excel
- l e n t w a t e r , a n d h a s b e e n a g r e a t b o o n t o t h e s e p o y s . T h e w e l l u s e d b y t h e P a r w á r i s e p o y s
dried up towards the close of the year, and the Executive Engineer has been requested to
have it cleared out. I have lately received the necessary apparatus, but have not yet had
time to analyse the water of the different line wells, but hope to do so shortly.
7. Food of good quality is generally abundant and cheap in Sholápur; but during
the last three months, owing to the failure of the crops, the
price has risen something like 300 per cent., and the quality of
the grain imported is not, I fear, of the best. Compensation is given by Government ; but I
fear those of the sepoys who have large families to maintain are obliged to curtail their
allowance of food, though I have not as yet observed any injurious effects on their health in
consequence. It was, I believe, in contemplation at one time that the sepoys in this and
other stations situated in the districts afflicted with scarcity, should be provided with
rations by the Commissariat Department, but no such arrangement has as yet been carried
out here.
Neighbouring village.
Conservancy.
Water-supply.
Food.
Clothing.
8. I would beg to refer to remarks made in previous
years' reports on this subject, to which I have no further
addition to make.
9. These have been the ordinary duties of a native regiment in cantonment. Latterly
the guard duties have been heavier than usual, a regimental
guard having relieved the police one at the treasury. No in -
jurious effects on the health of the corps have been apparent ; indeed, as will be seen under the
appropriate heading, the health of the regiment has been remarkably good during the year.
1 0 . W i t h r e g a r d t o t h e s e p o i n t s , I c a n o n l y r e p e a t t h e s u g g e s t i o n m a d e b y m e l a s t
year as to the desirability of constructing a gymnasium in the
lines of every native regiment, and the introduction of
regimental gardens. Cricket has been much encouraged in
this regiment by the Adjutant, and many of the sepoys have frequently played during the
last season. They seemed to take great interest in the game, and many of them acquitted
themselves most creditably.
Duties.
Exercise, amusement, and occu
-pation.