Diet.
Clothing.
XV. Sickness, mortalitu and invaliding —Strength of the regiment
Present
. .
. . . . . . . . 263.92
Absent
. . . . .
. 24.07
Total . . 287.99
Sickness,
mort al i t y and i nval i di ng.
PRESIDENCY DISTRICT. 11
III. Topography and physical geography. —The city of Dacca is situated on the left bank of
the river Boorigunga, and is separated from cantonments by a narrow khal which, after winding
through almost every part of the town, forms the western boundary of the lines. The greater
part of the country around Dacca, except to the north, is very low, and is under water for
about four months. To the north the country is much higher, and is covered with dense
jungle, which in many places is almost impassable for elephants for about 13 miles, after which
the jungle is scanty and low, and the country fine and open. The ground on which the lines
and city are situated is comparatively high and dry. The chur in the river, which I said was
increasing last year, is still getting larger, and is becoming covered with small bushes and
weeds. This is not yet sufficient to cause unhealthiness, I think ; but if it goes on at the present
rate, it will probably do so before very long, especially as I notice it is being used as a latrine
by people crossing the river. I counted over one morning seven men defœcating on a small portion
of the chur visible from my window. The marshy ground to the north of the tank and latrine,
also mentioned last year, has, as was expected, been much improved by the drain dug; it was
comparatively dry during the rainy season, and there was no growth of jungle.
IV. Meteorology and climate.—The meteorological remarks are founded on
observations recorded at the Telegraph Office. There are no instruments at the
hospital. The highest temperature was 98° and lowest 61°5'; but as the time of
taking observations is at 10 A.M. and 4 P.M. only, the greatest cold would certainly
not be obtained then. It is recorded that the cold weather set in very suddenly
about the middle of December, and that the miniature self-registering thermo
-meter then fell to 37°. The prevailing winds fall in with the recurrent monsoon
track.
Topography
and physical
geography.
Meteorology
and climate.
VI. Drainage. —This was considerably improved at the end of last year, and during this
year's rains the effect was marked. The drainage may now be said to be good all over canton-
ments. As has been previously reported, around the barracks, hospital, and officers' quarters,
there are open pucka drains, which carry off all excess of water. From the neighbourhood of
the kutcha huts the water is carried away by the natural slope of the ground, and the open
drains dug last year quickly remove the water from those places where it formerly used to lie.
The river rose unusually high this year, so that the tank was filled to overflowing, and the
water approached very close to the followers' huts at one end. At this time the level of the
subsoil water was in some places not more than 2 or 3 feet from the surface of the ground.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.—The conservancy of cantonments is very good, but all
around in the jungle, in which the huts of the villagers are situated, there is no conservancy at
all. A description was given last year of the large latrine ; it has been worked on the dry-earth
system throughout the year. I have always found both latrines clean and free from smell.
VIII. Water-supply. —The water for drinking is drawn every day from the river, and is
of bad quality, as the drainage of the greater part of the town finds its way into the river,
either running straight into the water from cesspools on the bank, or being carried in along
with the water of the khal before mentioned. In the beginning of July the plan of adding
alum to the water was adopted. The water is drawn in the afternoon, and put into large jars,
three of which are found enough for each company. The Subadar of the company then adds
alum in the proportion of 6 grains per gallon of water, and the water is allowed to stand until the
next morning before being used. The water that is not used is thrown away before fresh water
is put in. This water when poured into a glass is almost colourless, is free from any unplea
-sant taste, and is a great improvement on the water as formerly drunk. An examination of
the water drawn fresh from the river, and of the water as drunk by the men after the addition
of alum, shows an increase of sulphates and chlorides in the latter, and to this is due, I think,
the greatly increased .number of cases of goitre that have occurred this year, chiefly in August,
September, and October. Against this, however, must be set the fact that the number of cases
of dysentery this year is less than half the number last year, and the year before, The Dacca
water-works were opened on the 24th May, and the water supplied liberally to the town is
pure and pleasant to the taste. Unfortunately the tap nearest to the lines is more than a mile
distant, and so this water is not used by the troops. I believe pipes will eventually be laid to
supply the bazaar near cantonments, in which case it would be well worth while carrying a
special pipe across the khal to supply the troops, or at any rate to have a cart to bring the
Water daily.
IX. Diet. —Always of good quality, and no underfeeding,
X. Clothing.—Leather gaiters were taken into use, but discontinued. Am-
munition boots, without socks, are worn.
If thick socks were worn or rags bound round the feet, as is the custom, I
believe, in the German army, there would probably be much less temporary
loss of service from blistered and sore feet.
Drainage.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Water-supply,