94
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Locality or
designation of
the well.
Depth
of water.
Date and hour of measurement.
Distance of
sub-soil water
from surface.
Rainfall
since last
measurement.
Admissions
from ague
during each
month.
R e g i m e n t a l W e l l N o . 3 , o u t s i d e t h e L i n e s a n d a b o u t 1 0 0 y a r d s f r o m t h e m .
Ft. In.
Ft. In.
In. C.
11 6 15th of January 1876, 5 A.M. ... 26
6
...
...
2
10 6
„
February „ „
... 27
0
. . . . . .
8
9 0
„
March
„
„
... 29
0
... ...
2
8 0 „
April
„
„
... 30
0
. . . . . .
23
5 6
„
M ay
,,
„
... 32
6
... ...
23
5 0
„
June
„
„
... 33
0
1
4
27
4 6
„
July
„
„ . . . 33
6
7
57
31
4 6
,,
August „
„ . . . 33
6
9 55
26
5 0
,,
September „
,,
... 33
0
10
24
38
11 6
„
October
„
,,
... 26
6
0
10
33
11 6
„
November „
„
... 26
6
......
27
10 0
,,
December „
,,
... 28
0
......
13
4. These are situated at the northern end of the camp. The site is good. On the whole
the huts have not been in good repair during the year. Walls
occasionally fell during wet weather. One pendall was recently
vacated because the central wall was cracked and dangerous. The huts are low and single-
tiled, and built of mud and sunburnt bricks, without plinths, and on black soil. Hence
during the rains the walls and floor get very damp. The roofs are not very waterproof, and
so there is an additional source of dampness. Cubic space in each hut is barely enough.
Ventilation is defective, the door and the crevices in the roof being the only inlets and
outlets for the air. There is very little light in the huts, and this circumstance cannot be
without some effect on the health of the men. The means of disposing of the foul water
from the hut is defective ; all the dirty water is thrown out round about the hut ; the per
-manent latrine, which is opened only during the rains, being too far from the lines, and
there being a general dislike to the trench system.
5. From the beginning of the year up to the 1st of August the trench system of
latrines was in use. I have very little experience to say much
of its merits or demerits ; but I submit it as my impression
that it cannot be quite safe, unless the following conditions are fulfilled :—( a) that wells and
other sources of water-supply are not near the trenches ; ( b) that the ground in which the
trenches are dug is not limited in extent ; ( c) that the same ground is not repeatedly used
for the purpose ; (d) that early and repeated cropping of the ground is insured ; ( e) that the
trenches are so situated that the wind blowing over them does not blow in the direction
where the lines and officers’ bungalows are situated ; (f) that sepoys, and particularly their
women, are absolutely prevented from trying to avoid using them and causing nuisance else
-where in preference.
These conditions, I don’t think, are completely fulfilled here. Moreover, the system is
hated by the sepoy, and particularly by the women, and their feelings on this point deserve
consideration. The permanent latrines situated to the north of the lines are well adapted
for the sepoy ; they work well, and are kept clean ; powdered earth is used in them ; the
excreta are promptly carted away, and the establishment of the sweepers is quite sufficient and
their work is efficiently supervised. The only drawback is that they are too far from the
lines.
6. It is derived from three wells belonging exclusively to the regiment, and a fourth
well, which is used by men of both the native regiments: They
are all situated between the lines and the permanent latrines.
One of the three wells is used by Mochees, one by Parwarees, and the third by the higher
class of Hindus and the Mussulmans. The Mochees’ well is very near the latrine of the
23rd Regiment and furthest from the lines, and does not yield very pure water. The Hindoo
and Parwaree wells are nearer the lines and furthest from the permanent latrines, though
the latter well is again very near the hospital latrine. The officers get their supply from a
guarded well near the new 23rd Regiment bazaar, which yields very good water. The pos
-sible sources of impurity are, as in the case of the Mochees’ and Parwarees’ well, the vicinity
to the latrines, and the dirtiness of the water-drawing utensils. The supply from wells is
just sufficient, and so a tank close to the camp or other sources of water-supply are a great
desideratum in such a large military station as Mhow.
The lines, &c,
Conservancy, &c.
Water-supply,