128
A. SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
tan, stopping at Mustoong and Khelat for a few months ; from the latter town it left for
Mittree, where it is at present under canvas. There are two detachments, consisting of 14
men each, one stationed. at Thul, the other at Kashmere.
2. For the accommodation of the non-married men of the regiment there are, at the
east end of camp, nine parallel buildings of equal . length, the
Lines.
• one in the right and that on the left being half the width of the
.other seven. They are supposed to hold a thousand men, giving each man about 800 cubic feet
of air space. Cross ventilation under the roofs was established last April. The barracks are
all built on the ground and not raised on plinths, so that the flooring in the inundation season
becomes quite damp, and crumbles away in parts. A row of trees in front of the doors of the
barracks, under which the men sleep for six months of the year, is .gradually .decaying from
want of water, and, unless verandas are constructed as recommended in the Deputy Surgeon-
- General's report for last year, the men will be badly off for shade. The quarters in the family
lines are not open to inspection ; but from their outward appearance, and a knowledge of the
habits of the occupants, no hesitation is felt in saying that they are not in a strictly hygienic
condition. The bazaar, which is a little too near the hospital, is kept in very good .order.
There is at about 1,000 yards from the lines a latrine which is simply a portion
of the plain enclosed by a mud wall and .divided into two corn.-
Conservancy.
partments ; it is used only by the prisoners ; all the other men
resorted for purposes of nature to the surrounding jungle. Attached to each of the married
men's huts is a private latrine cleaned twice daily by a staff of sweepers kept up by the
regiment. Proper latrines should he built on a site oat a reasonable ,distance from the ineu's
cluarters.
The water is good, except in the inundation season, when some of the wells become
.
pply
brackish, but even then very fair water can be had at some
Water-supply.
distance from the lines.
Food of good quality and sufficient in quantity, is .obtained .at moderate prices in the
Brigade and city bazaars, the regimental one being only resorted
Food.
to by these who wish to purchase it on credit. From the
beginning of May to the end of September vegetables are not obtainable ; fruits, of which the
water-melon is the most plentiful, taking their place.
.6. Out-post rluty is the only one which seems particularly
Duties.
to have an ill effect on the health of the men.
Besides the usual drills and parades of an infantry regiment each recruit is compel.
led to go through a gymnastic course. Many of the sepoys
Exercise.
also resort to the gymnasium for exercise and amusement.
Wrestling is the favourite pastime, and on one day in the week the matches got up for the
occasion draw crowds of spectators. few of the men work at trades, such as earpentry,
shoe-making, &c.
The hospital is situated in a large compound which, owing to there being no surround-
.
mg wall, becomes a thoroughfare for the people passing between
Hospital and its surroundings.
the lines and regimental bazaar. Its want of accommodation was
brought forward in the annual report of the regiment for last year, and I believe a new ward
has been sanctioned, but it has root been yet commenced. cook-room and dead-house are
urgently required, the former More especially, as at present those patients Who are well
enough to do' so, leave the hospital for two hours each day for the purpose of procuring and
cooking their food, while those who are confined to their beds mustve men to attend
them : this latter fact, of course, throws extra duty on the men out of hospital. A ward for the
treatment of infectious diseases is also required. The hospital latrines are well built and
are kept in very good order ; they are cleaned out twice a day, McDougall's powder being
used in conjunction with dry earth.
There were 1,023 admissions during the year, showing an increase of 194 over those
for last year ; this has been mainly due to the increase in the
Sickness and mortality.
number of cases of ague, the number treated being 137 more
than that for last year. Dysentery and diarrhoea account for 54 of the admissions. The