46
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
become contaminated with liquid sewage which found its way by percolation into the
well. The well has been closed, but no improvements have been made to remedy the
faulty construction of the latrine. Those used by the left wing and the bazaar people
are built on the double block system, and an attempt made to assimilate them to the stand-
ard plan. They seem to be of very old construction, and the effluvia emanating from them
and the adjoining grounds baffle all description. These two latrines, unless broken down
and built entirely on the improved plan, will always be a source of nuisance. On the arival of
the head-quarters of this regiment here the subject was reported by me ; but my suggestions
for improvement were set aside on the plea that the present latrines were built according to
the latest “standard plan.” However, Dr. Hewlett, the Sanitary Commissioner, who inspected
them during the cholera epidemic, has reported against them, and has suggested, if possible,
the building of new latrines. It is to be hoped that his suggestions will shortly be carried out.
6. There are six wells in use by the men of this regiment, the water of two of them
having been considered suspicious on account of the large amount
of oxygen consumed in the permanganate test. I caused a
sample of each to be sent to the Chemical Analyser to Government for analysis ; the results
are given below :—
1.— Well No. 112, distance from the lines 52 feet, used by the Purwaris. Collected
13th, August 1876.
Total solid, grains per gallon ...
...
...
...
...
...
21.00
Chlorine
do.
...
...
...
...
...
2.46
Free ammonia, parts per million
...
...
...
...
...
0.03
Albuminoid ammonia
do.
...
...
..
.
...
...
0.11
Sediment.—Deposits small ash-coloured flake, partly soluble in acid,
without effervescence ; solution indicates presence of lime, infusoria absent.
There were leaves and sticks found floating in the well, and these were ordered to be
cleaned out. There was one death among the Purwaris from cholera. The deceased was the
wife of a sepoy ; but as no other case has occurred among this caste, the disease could not be
attributed to the use of this water.
2.— Well No. 110, distance from the privy 166 feet, used by the regimental bazaar people.
Collected 13th August 1876.
Total solids, grain per gallon
...
...
...
...
...
...
15.40
Chlorine
do
...
...
...
...
...
...
1.54
Free ammonia, parts per million
...
...
...
...
0.02
Albuminoid ammonia
do.
...
...
...
...
...
0.16
Sediment. —Copious brick red, consists mostly of vegetable debris, and
ferrigeneous earth mounds one or two paramecia.
This water, when collected, had a reddish colour, owing to presence of the detritus of
laterite, and being, situated in the immediate vicinity of the cattle yards was considered
suspicious ; but no ill effects have yet been observed among the people who use this water.
7. Abundant supplies of food, such as grain, pulse, vegetables, mutton, eggs, milk, &c.,
are easily procured here. Till September this year the supplies
were more abundant than usual ; but owing, to the absence of
the latter rains, the prices have risen considerably. A quantity of rice, however, has been
brought from other places, and the prices are kept from rising higher. Since the high prices
set in, there is an increased scorbutic taint observed among the men, especially among the
sepoys whose pay is small.
Water-supply.
Food.
Clothing.
8. The white tunic has been abandoned since the regi-
ment left Aden.