15
PRESIDENCY DIVISION, ADEN, AND BOMBAY MARINE.
3. A latrine for the troops has been erected on the western side of the fort containing
eight partitions, to hold the same number of iron receptacles, and
all sanitary arrangements are satisfactory ; the excreta being
daily removed in closed receptacles and buried to leeward of the fort.
4. The water-supply for drinking purposes is condensed on the island, and is of good
quality. The troops receive a liberal allowance, viz., 2 gallons
condensed and 3 of brackish or purchased water daily per head,
and during the hot months—from May to September—an increase of a gallon of condensed
per man, daily, has been sanctioned. With the exception of the officer commanding, the
European residents receive a meagre allowance of water, viz., 3 gallons condensed, and 2 gallons
purchased or brackish, water daily each ; this quantity is insufficient for drinking, ablution, and
culinary purposes. The purchased or brackish water is brought in country crafts or bugga
-
lows, procured from wells and rivers on the surrounding coasts of Arabia and Africa, according
as the winds for sailing permit. It serves the purpose of ablution very well; nay, it is some
-
times preferred by the natives of the island for drinking.
5. The troops are supplied with rations by the Commissariat according to the following
scale :—Daily per man : flour, 2nd sort, 1 lb. ; rice, 2nd sort,
12 ozs. dhall 4 ozs.; ghee 2' ozs. ; salt 2/3 oz. ; vegetables; country,
7 ozs. ; curry-stuff and kokum ½ oz. of each ; firewood 3 lbs; sugar 1 oz., and 1 drachm of lime
-
juice ;—all are of good quality, with the exception of vegetables, which are invariably of inferior
quality, sometimes dry and withered, and consist only of onions and pumpkins, the latter of
which are seldom. eaten by the men, but are either thrown away or given to the goats on the
island. Fowls, fruit, and vegetables in very small quantities are occasionally brought
in
canoes from the Arabian coast for sale.
6 . C o t t o n a n d w a r m c l o t h i n g , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s e a s o n , a r e w o r n w h e n o n d u t y . D u t i e s
are light ; occasional parades ; more frequently employed in
making and repairing roads. Exerts no pernicious influence on
health.
7. The hospital consists of a spacious room situated and attached to the south-eastern
extremity of the fort. It is freely ventilated (except on the
side attached to the fort), and capable of accommodating 8
patients. No improvements or requirements can be suggested.
8. The principal admissions during the year have been from ague, dysentery, lumbago
,
chronic rheumatism, synovial rheumatism, sclerotitis,
mation of the lymphatics, bronchitis, and incontinence of urine.
The case of ulcer shown as remained, was transferred to Head-quarter Hospital, Aden ; that of
ague was successfully treated with cinchonidine, and of dysentery, which was severe, yielded to
the ipecac. treatment. The case of sclerotitis remained long on the list, with little improve-
ment, though every remedy from this dispensary was tried ; a relieving detachment arriving
opportunely from Aden, the case was transferred to Head-quarter Hospital ; those that remained
in hospital when relieving detachment arrived, were transferred with the relieved. Owing to the
keen and irritating north-westerly winds prevailing during the months of June, July, and part
of August, cases of catarrh, bronchitis, and rheumatism occurred. In the month of October,
bowel diseases appear to have been greatly on the increase among the troops and civil
population, which was attributed to unwholesome flour being issued as rations. Two cases of
scurvy óccurred among the military, and one in a dooly-bearer of the Commissariat Depart-
ment, all of which necessitated anti-scorbutics, and were treated as external patients. In the
latter case the symptoms were very much aggravated.
The "average daily sick" of the military has been 38, and the "average daily attend-
ance" from colic, diarrhœa, slight dysenteric symptoms, bronchitis, catarrh, rheumatism,
dyspepsia, and one case of hæmoptysis (which yielded after a few days' active treatment)
was 2.0.
The diseases among the civil inhabitants have been bronchitis, phthisis, diarrhœa,
dyspepsia, ague, constipation, catarrhal ophthalmia, gleet, syphilitic wart, rheumatism,
scurvy, worms, teething, complicated fracture of lower end of radius, wounds and contusions,
and scorpion stings. That of fracture occurred in a camel-driver of the Commissariat from the
bite of a camel, was under treatment for a period of 15 days, and then sent to Aden. The
"average daily attendance" has been 1.2.
Two deaths occurred during the year under review : one a child, belonging to a light-
house lascar, from chronic diarrhœa; the other, a wife of the water-contractor's, from
phthisis.
Conservancy.
Water supply.
Food.
Clothing and duties.
Hospital.
Sickness and mortality.