Location and movements.
Detachments
84
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
REMARKS BY DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL D. WYLLIE, M.D.
Scorbutus is of common occurrence in the detachments that have served at Burda Chokey
and Dwárka, and particularly at the former. Thus a good many of the men are tainted,
and 30 cases required hospital relief, while the wing 7th Regiment N. I. had relatively more;
the two contributing nearly double the number of cases that occurred in the rest of the
native force within this circle. Otherwise, health was tolerably good, and the only unusual
incident was the occurrence of cholera in summer, from which there were 2 deaths. The
lines, of recent construction, are the best I have seen; and collateral conditions are all sani
-tarily favourable, unless that here, as at Bhuj and in the stations of the Mhow command,
vegetables are scarce and dear. Ample hospital accommodation; but the building is not in
good repair, and quarters for establishment are very defective and insufficient, a shed open
on all sides being all that is provided for 2nd class servants. Iron ridge-ventilators have
been added during the year. Conservancy scarcely so efficient as it should be, the medical
officer remarking that there is occasionally some delay and difficulty in getting the filth
receptacles emptied, the conservancy cart having more work to do than it can well perform.
The same complaint of delay has from time to time been made by his predecessors.
(In this report no mention of the numbers of treated, died, &c., of the detachment station-
ed at Burda Chokey from 1st January to 9th March 1876, is made.)
H. M.'s 11th Regiment N. I.
BHUJ.—In medical charge of Surgeon-Major P. W. COCKELL ;—strength, 678.2
1. The regiment has been stationed at Bhuj during the
past twelve months.
2. With the exception of small recruiting and escort
parties, and men on furlough, the whole strength has been at
head-quarters during the above period.
3. The drift of sand from high winds was even greater this year than last. The rain
-fall being again scanty, growth was slight, the country conse
-quently remaining very bare and bleak. The larger of the two
tanks outside the town was well filled, thanks to heavy rain in the southerly range of hills,
and to some engineering operations which had been carried out; but the smaller tank on the
east of the town received a very scanty supply of water. The natural drainage of camp is
rapid and efficient, so that there is no lodgment of water.
4 . T h e c l i m a t e d u r i n g t h e y e a r h a s b e e n d e c i d e d l y d r i e r a n d b e t t e r t h a n l a s t y e a r .
There was more wind in spring and less in autumn, and hot
winds lasted rather longer.
5. No change has been made in the lines; the usual repairs have been carried out.
There has been no overcrowding. The lines, though old and
below the standard measurement, do not seem to have affected
the men's health in any way. There are not any drains; all effete matters are removed daily.
The sub-soil water stands at a depth of 42 feet, and there is at present 8 feet of water in the
well in the lines.
9. The trench system of latrines is still in use, the position and arrangements being
the same as in former years. No part of the ground used has
been cultivated, as it could not be carried out so as to prove
remunerative. The system is good so far as it goes, but it
seems to be in less favour than ever with the men; for reasons formerly stated, all who can,
appear to resort to the open country outside camp. Conservancy throughout camp limits.
has been well attended to. There was no over-growth of vegetation this year. Many of
the old trees in camp died this year, apparently from prolonged want of moisture; and the
growth of the young ones is very slow.
7. The water-supply is drawn exclusively from wells, of which some are so brackish as
to be used only for washing; the water in the drinking wells
is clear and pleasant to drink, but hard; it has been good,
except on two occasions, once in May acid once in October, when a well had to be closed for
a week, the water having become offensive from some undiscovered cause, possibly a
small turtle having died. The wells were all drawn and cleaned out before the monsoon,
and the parapets were thoroughly repaired. There are no local sources of contamination, nor
of pollution, except from matters getting accidentally blown or thrown in; most of the wells
stand on an open plain.
Soil, water, and drainage.
Climate.
Lines.
Conservancy and sanitary ar
-rangements.
Water-supply.