3
PRESIDENCY DIVISION, ADEN, AND BOMBAY MARINE.
consider unfit for soldiers' work, and for the discharge of whom this procedure is under-
stood to be right, they having not served for a period entitling them to be invalided with
pension.
17. It is believed that the native regiments which are periodically stationed in Bombay
R e s u m e .
always present a larger sick list than the Marine Battalion al-
ways in this large city. Some men stint their stomachs and
hoard their cash, with a view to furlough leave; others spend their money in indulging passion,
the result being a very large taint of scorbutic and syphilitic diathesis. Among the wives
and families of the men in the rank and file of the regiment, there has been some consi-
derable sickness from debility. Several children have died, in my opinion, simply from
inanition.
REMARKS BY DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL W. G. HUNTER, M.D.
Visited the hospital of H. M.'s 20th Regiment N. I. two or three times, and also inspected the
regimental lines twice from the time I assumed charge of the office of the Deputy Surgeon-Gene-
ral in June to the close of the year 1876. The conservancy of the hospital is satisfactory, and
its capacity has not been tested, the number of sick being few. Its surroundings are, however,
exceedingly bad; in its immediate vicinity is Sonapore, one of the most unhealthy parts of the
city ; to its east, distant some 20 yards, is the Scotch Burial-ground ; to its west is the sea, and
to its exposure to the sea-breeze is in all likelihood to be attributed its freedom from epi-
deic disease. The sanitary surroundings of the regimental lines are of the worst description.
They have, however, been so frequently reported on as not to call for further notice.
The detachment of the 4th Rifles N. I., doing duty in Bombay, is quartered with the
20th Regiment N. I., and their sick are accommodated in the hospital of the same regiment.
The general remarks above made apply equally to this corps.
H. M.'s 21st Regiment N. I. or Marine Battalion.
BOMBAY.—In medical charge of Surgeon-Major W. DAVEY ; strength 568.5.
The head-quarters and main body of the regiment has been, as usual, stationed in Born-
Location and movement.
bay throughout the year ; the usual detachments have been
furnished in course of annual relief to the Persian Gulf and
Indian Government steam vessels as follows :—
Bassadore
... ...
...
...
. . .
. . .
12
Bushire
...
...
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
16
I. G. S. S. " Hugh Rose"
...
...
...
...
10
Do.
" Abyssinia" ...
...
...
...
...
8
Do.
" Magdala" ...
...
...
...
...
8
Do. " Dalhousie" ...
... ...
...
...
8
Do.
" Kwangtung
...
...
...
...
8
Yeola
...
...
...
...
...
...
20
The latter detachment is a new call on the regiment.
Conservancy, &c.
2. The conservancy, sanitary arrangements, water-supply,
&c.,have been as before reported.
3. The drought in the eastern districts of the Presidency had the effect of considerably
Food, &c.
enhancing the price of all cereals for a time ; but the rise in
Price was not long maintained, and the sepoys' food can now be
procured at nearly the usual market rate. Rice forms the staple article of food, but I have
reason to think that meat and fish of a very inferior quality frequently supplement their diet.
4. Not heavy, the men having had 5 1/3 nights in bed during the year; but the running or
rushing drill which has lately come into practice, commencing,
as it does, at the setting in of the cold weather, predisposes the
Duties.
men to chest affection, and serious cases of this class of disease are not infrequent during the
drill season.