xii
ship. Every account represent both quantity and variety as good and sufficient.
The only circumstance which has not been quite explained, but which was said
to have arisen from the diet on boardship, was the prevalence of a low form of
inflammation, affecting the mouth and soft-palate, which appeared among both
the troops and followers of the Contingent soon after its arrival at Malta. The
cases were not serious, and the medical enquiry as to its origin seemed to refer
the disease rather to surfeit of food and want of sufficient exercise. There was
no evidence of ergotized grain, nor of parasitic growth in the ulcers which
broke out on the gums, teeth, tongue, and lips. It was certainly not of a
scorbutic type, though all were advised by the Maltese to eat oranges for their
cure.
30. As regards the rations which were issued to the Native Army and camp
followers who had crossed the frontier, the medical opinions regarding their
merits and sufficiency vary a good deal, a result which is chiefly due to the
many experiences of service and the different races of men composing the
invading force. For example, the Surgeon-Major of the 4th Goorkhas states
that the physique of the men was certainly improved by free rations, and
the Surgeon-Major of the 1st Goorkhas concurs in this view and suggests as an
explanation that many of the married men do certainly not get the same quantity
of food when in quarters with their families. The 15th Native Infantry
"has had good food throughout the year; on the march from Lahore to Mooltan
large quantities of milk and mutton were obtained at cheap rates" (R. W. Cun
-
ningham, M.D.) : "Government rations fairly liberal, supplemented by working
pay and purchase of fowls, eggs, goats, vegetables, when procurable (E. Tayler,
23rd Native Infantry) "Rations ample, followers and kahars grow fat on
them" (Surgeon W. E. Griffiths, 21st Native Infantry). On the other hand, Sur
-
geon H. Boyd considers the rations insufficient and not enough variety (14th
Native Infantry). Surgeon-Major H. N. Keefer is of the same opinion; while
Surgeon Lewtas, 27th Native Infantry, after a very careful and close enquiry,
considers the flour is in excess, and that a meat ration is, to a wide extent,
indispensable to troops across the North-Western Frontier.
30. Many diseases appear to be contracted from the habit of cooking food
hastily, or eating it when cold and sodden. The natives drink water too largely,
and often crave for the indulgence of tea, sugar, tobacco or opium to allay sub
-
sequent indigestion. Army medical officers are commonly of opinion that
the issue of rations should in future be universal, and that an increase of
efficiency would result, especially if to this system were superadded the insti
-
tution of messes with one cook to each section. It appears that this was really
tried in the 13th Native Infantry on boardship, and was also successful at
Malta and Cyprus (Surgeon W. R. Murphy). The quality of the rations is not
complained of except that the atta had occasionally an excess of bran; but this
was found to be due rather to careless filling of bags than to the quality of the
s u p p l y . T h e w a n t o f m i l k a n d v e g e t a b l e s w a s a l w a y s m u c h f e l t , s c u r v y d i d n o t
exist in any regiment to an appreciable degree except as a concomitant of
general ill-health,—1st malarious fever, 2nd underfeeding, 3rd scurvy—and
unfortunately in this case it is not to be repressed or cured by lime-juice
alone. Sickly men require warmth, rest, fresh milk, vegetables, and a little
rum, to perfect their recovery. I have noticed with pleasure that in several
regiments the medical officers interest themselves in obtaining hospital comforts
and nourishment for the sick soldier in addition to the scale of regular supply.
In the 44th Native Infantry "the soups are regularly made and patients taught
to prepare them. All the sick diets are controlled with extreme care, with
every precaution not to offend caste prejudices" (Surgeon J. O. Brien, M. D).
"Good milk is provided regimentally to the patients in hospital" (Surgeon D. N.
Martin). A little attentive supervision would effect a marked improvement in
the dieting of sick native soldiers. The supply of firewood, the convenience
of a cooking place, is often a matter which decides whether a native will eat
or starve.
31. While the clothing of the native soldier in cantonments has been amply
discussed in previous summaries, the commencement of hostilities on such a
large scale in an entirely new and very laborious country has brought strongly
to light many weak points of uniform and undress clothing. In a general way