Conservancy
and latrines.
Water-
supply.
Food.
Clothing.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
32
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL
.
every part of the station and emptying into the Dibru river ; it has, worked well and
effectively, and even after the heaviest falls of rain, little if any water is ever found lodging
on any part of the station. The levels are, however, liable to derangement by the silting up
of the sewers. To maintain them in order, and to keep down rank vegetation, an overseer
and 10 coolies are maintained, and find constant employment on such works.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.—The hospital latrines are worked on the dry-earth
system, and are always sweet and clean; the deodorized night-soil is removed twice daily and
buried in a remote part of the station. Trench latrines were first introduced into this station
about four years ago, and are becoming better appreciated every year, especially in the rainy
season. In the dry season they are not much frequented, except by the women and children
in the cold season the men prefer resorting to the jungle on the north bank of the Dibru river.
The site of the latrines is shifted periodically as required, and the filled-up trenches planted
with sugarcane. The cultivated tract has not, however, proved remunerative to the growers,
and is not likely to be again undertaken as a source of gain, but if found desirable ryots
would continue the cultivation if assisted by a small subsidy from the Cantonment Funds.
VIII. Water-supply. —The water-supply is drawn from three masonry wells situated in
the lines ; the wells are from 20 to 25 feet deep, and the masonry is continued to two feet
above the surface of the ground, so that pollution either by percolation or by reflux from the
surface is, in my opinion, fully provided against. The only contamination possible is from
foul vessels being used in drawing water, and by filth washed from the feet of persons frequent
- i n g t h e w e l l s , — a n d w h o s t a n d u p o n t h e g r a t i n g s t h a t p r o t e c t t h e m o u t h o f t h e w e l l s i n t h e
process of drawing water. This could be prevented by providing each well with an iron pump,
and closing the opening of the wells altogether. I will recommend that such pumps be
provided ; the cost would be only trifling, and might be met from the Cantonment Fund. For
the greater portion of the year the water of these wells is fairly pure ; a rough analysis was
recently submitted by Surgeon Conry, and bears out this view, but when the rains are at their
height, and the water rises in the wells flush with the surrounding ground or within a foot of
it, as not unfrequently occurs, the water undoubtedly becomes impure, and a large accession to
bowel disorders invariably follows such occurrences. The river Dibru, which flows past can-
tonments, and is quite dry for six months annually from November to May, becomes a
flowing stream from June to October. Whilst it is available the sepoys and their families use
it for bathing, and no doubt a great number (chiefly Hindustanis) use it also for drinking and
cooking food. As there is no considerable population on its banks, the water of the Dibru must
be purer and more free from human contamination than most Indian rivers, compared with
other parts of India. Fish is plentiful, but very expensive; vegetables are abundant and
reasonably cheap ; animal food, such as can be used by any class in the regiment, i.e., goats,
pigeons, and poultry, are so dear as to be absolutely prohibitory. However, a large number
of the sepoys are keen shikaries and kill a good number of deer and jungly pigs, and thus
furnish a most important food-supply.
X. Clothing. —The boots are of the laced ammunition pattern, manufactured in England
by private contractors, and are excellent in every respect, and without fault so far as I can
ascertain ; but the best boots will cause blisters and abrasions if worn without socks, and the
sepoys are insufficiently, or in many cases not at all, supplied with socks. Notwithstanding
the excellence of the boots, and the great trouble taken in suitably fitting the men with them,
the number of admissions from blistered feet rose from 15 in 1877 to 43 in 1878.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of the regiment:—
Present .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 799.2
Absent .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
85.6
Total
.
. 8 8 4 . 8
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average
number
of
PER CENT. 0F STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
A d m i s - s i o n s . Deaths.
Admis-s i o n s . Deaths.
Daily
average
sick.
Head-quarters at Dibrugurh 1st Jan. 1878 31st Dee. 1878
542
764
3
20.53 140.96 .55
3.78
Sadiya and Pobamukh
.
Ditto
.
Ditto
.
206
296
...
6.83 143 . 79
...
3.31
Wokah
.
.
.
.
Ditto
.
Ditto
.
59
72
2
3.67 122.34 3 . 39
6.22
Jaipur
.
.
.
. 14th Dec.1878
Ditto
.
26
5
.09 389.44
.50
TOTAL
.
. . . . . .
. . . . . . 799.2 1,137
5
31.40 142.26 .62
3.92
Number of deaths in hospital 5; out of hospital 6; total .
11; per cent. of total strength
.
1.24
„
invalided .
. . . . . . . .
46;
,,
, , .
5.18
,,
sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
7;
, ,
, , .
. 7 9
„
of days spent in hospital 11,800; per admission
10.37; per man of total strength
.
13.34
, ,
„
on sick leave 1,200 ; per man
.
. 171.43;
, ,
,,
.
1.35
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
.
.
14.69
The increased number invalided this year was owing to the circumstance of two invaliding,
committees having assembled during the year under the operation of a recent General Order.