62
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE 'NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL,
Lines and
huts.
Drainage.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Water-supply
Diet.
Clothing.
rain fell on the 13th January, sufficient to moisten the ground for ploughing. I regret that
owing to the march of the regiment, I was unable to complete the statistics.
V. Lines and nuts.— These have been frequently described ; a reference to former reports is
therefore only necessary. The huts are all in good order, and do not even require much repair.
The lines were always clean and well kept, the trees affording excellent shade during the heat of
the day.
VI. Drainage. —The drains were all put into thorough order during the past year; there
was no lodgment of water, and the ground was very well sloped naturally.
VII. Conservancy and latrines. —The new latrine was completed by the end of August, but
was never used, as some alterations were absolutely necessary to render it of any real use. The
place for the privy pans was too small to admit of the pans, and those supplied were ridiculously
small and quite useless. Others are, I believe, to be given, but then the partition walls must
be widened.
VIII. Water-supply. —As before stated, the water is entirely from wells which afford ample
quantity, and the quality is very good.
IX. Diet. —As heretofore, the sepoys supply themselves with food from the regimental
bazar, and the price of grain was cheaper than in 1877.
X. Clothing. —With regard to boots, I have no remarks to make further than drawing
attention to the accompanying table as compared with 1877. The march of the regiment from
Lahore sufficiently bears out my previous remarks that the present boot with double marching
is quite inapplicable.
Number of admissions from Blistered feet.
Years
.
.
.
.
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
Per cent. of average
daily strength present,
1878.
Disease .
.
.
.
42
62
49
62
105
16.33
Halt.
Halt.
Halt.
Halt.
March.
Marches.
XIII. Marches.—The regiment left Lucknow on the 5th October by special train for
Cawupore for duty, as was supposed, at that station in place of the 31st Native Infantry ordered
on service. They left their lines accompanied by the bands of Her Majesty's 73rd and 4th
Native Infantry at 3 A.M., and arrived at the railway station at 4-30 A.M. ; the morning was
dark and cold. The depôt 1 was left at the station, and a few of the sick as were unable to
accompany us were transferred to the 4th Native Infantry hospital; total number 8. Of these
most have rejoined at the depôt.
The arrangements at the railway station were not as satisfactory as they should have been,
as the platform at which the troop-train was drawn up did not permit of the doors of the
carriages being opened ; hence many of the men had to get in through the windows, and
during the darkness, created unnecessary delay and inconvenience both to officers and men.
The baggage was all loaded up by 2 P.M. of the previous day by fatigue parties under charge
of the Quartermaster. All were in their places by 5-30 A.M. At this time General Chamberlain
and some of the staff arrived, and at 6 o'clock the bugle sounded the advance. The train
proceeded very slowly the whole distance, stopping at three stations to receive " line clear," and
we arrived at Cawnpore troop-siding (which is about one mile up the line of the East Indian
Railway from the regular station) at 11 o'clock the same day, that is, 5th October 1878. The
morning was exceeding hot and close. The troops were removed from the carriages as soon as
possible, drawn up in line, and marched off about one and a half miles to the camp, which was
pitched close to the lines recently vacated by the 31st Native Infanty, the Quartermaster and a
fatigue party being left behind to unload the baggage and convey it in carts to its destination.
All were under canvas by 2 P.M. All men absent from the regiment at the time of marching
were recalled by telegraph to join head-quarters. Only seven sick, accompanied the regiment
to Cawnpore under charge of myself,—2 first and 1 third class hospital assistants, with medical
stores and comforts, &c. No difficulties occurred at any time on. the road or subsequently.
On the 9th October orders were received by telegraph to prepare for field service on the
Cabul scale, but what that was no one then knew ; but a printed circular from the Quartermaster
-
1
C o n s i s t i n g o f 1 n o n - c o m m i s s i o n e d o f f i c e r a n d 3 3 m e n .