90
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL,
Observations
and remarks.
Inspection.
XX. Observations and remarks.—Major T.K. Davidson appends the following observations :
— " W i t h r e f e r e n c e t o p a r a g r a p h X I I I o f t h i s r e p o r t , I w o u l d s u g g e s t t h a t s o m e m e a s u r e s h o u l d
be adopted for the wells at all encamping grounds being periodically cleaned, and would further
suggest that this matter should be brought to the notice of the Quartermaster-General of the
Army by the Surgeon-General. In 1876 the regiment was suddenly sent out under canvas for
Loodiana disease, and had to occupy ground selected for a cholera camp.. There were two
splendid wells, but from disuse the water was fit for neither man nor horse, and I had to have
them cleaned out at the expense of the regiment. :I consider that such wells should always be
ready for use as it is impossible to say when they may not be required. The encamping
grounds, referred to by Surgeon-Major Griffith, where the water-supply was bad, were Kamora
Damora, Borhanpur and Moradabad With reference to the large number of cases of venereal
disease at Bareilly, we ascertained that it was contracted in a " muudee" situated just outside
cantoment limits, and I took on myself, with the cognizance and assistance of the Cantonment
Magistrate, to have all the women examined. About 20 women were found badly infected and
sent to the lock hospital. After this the venereal admissions almost entirely ceased. I be-
lieve that the large number of admissions from venereal since the regiment arrived at Umballa
is due to the village Bibeal, which is in close proximity to the lines, but outside the canton-
ment boundary, and would recommend some measures being taken as a preventive by the
cantonment authorities."
Inspection.—Dr. J. A.C. Hutchinson inspected the regiment on the 20th
October 1878 at Bareilly. He was pleased with the care and intelligence dis-
played regarding the medical arrangements. " The men of this fine regiment
were inspected at an undress parade, and presented the appearance.of a body
of healthy, active and well-grown men."
37th (The Meerat) Regiment, Aatibe Infantry—Bareilly
Medical
Officers.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Clothing.
Marches and
service.
I. Medical Officers.—Surgeon J. Moran, M.D., was in chargefrom 1st January
to 9th March, and Surgeon-
Major T. P. Wright from
10th March to 31st Decem-
ber.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.
—There has been no change in
the system of conservancy. The
trenches have been constantly re-
newed, and there has been no offen-
sive smell. The tatty screens are
generally preferred to the corru-
-gated-iron sheds, and both work
well. They have been visited
many times, and no complaints
have been called for ; of course in
very wet weather the dry earth
supply has not been always available, and never will be until more provision is made for its
storage. But there has been nothing to complain of, and I have always found that simplicity of
means is another word for success in results.
X. Clothing.—The boots iu use are of ammunition pattern and are worn without socks,
nevertheless the cases of blistered feet have been very few in number.
XIII. Marches and service.—Small parties are frequently sent on escort duty to various
places, but with no bad effect as a rule. But one party spent a few days in the Terai in April,
at a place called Nugla on the Naini Tal road, and 4 sepoys of that party have given 21 admis-
sions and 270 days in hospital since their return, and have had to be sent away on sick leave.
The naik in charge has also been frequently treated for fever of a slight character. I see that
a note, much to the same effect, was made in last year's report.
XIV. Hospital. —The hospital is a good, substantial building, and I think it is well suited
for its purposes. It has been rather cold for a month past, but I confess I think it a better
and more suitable native hospital than the somewhat palatial style of that lately in use by the
18th Bengal Cavalry, and certainly warmer and more Comfortable. Glass doors and windows
have been supplied ; a room has been enclosed from the verandah, at opposite corner to bath
room; as a separate ward; a shed for dry earth has been built close to the hospital latrine. A
new grass shed was put up close to the small-pox shed, when a Case of cholera occurred in the
cavalry lines, but was never used The usual annual repairs have been executed. There is no
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1873 . Fort William, Nov. 1872,
from Bhagulpur.
.
154.9
2.04
4.84
1874 . Fort William
. . 110.7
1.47
5.18
1875 . Ditto
. . .
104.9
1.87
5.69
1876 . Bareilly, Feb. 1876 .
106.7
1.05
4.30
1877 . Ditto
39.72
.85
1.87
Average . .
103.38
1.45
4.38
1878 . Bareilly
. . .
67.10
.98
2.54