RAJPOOTANA DISTRICT.
45
RAJPOOTANA DISTRICT.
(INCLUDING THE STATIONS OF DEOLEE AND ERINPOORAH.)
Average daily strength present during the year
. . . Cavalry 424.60 Infantry 1 5 4 5 . 4 9
Average daily sick per cent. of average strength . .
.
„
3.33
„
4.08
Ratio of mortality per cent. of average strength . .
.
„
2.19
„
1.10
4th Regiment, Bengal Cavalry—Deolee.
I. Medical Officer.—Surgeon J. S. Gunn, M.B., has been in medical
charge throughout the year,
and the annual report is
written by him. It is of
unusual merit ; every sec-
tion being compiled with the
greatest pains and with an
attention to details, which
plainly shows the interest
displayed by the writer in
all that concerns the medi-
cal welfare of those placed
under his care. Surgeon
Gunn describes the natural
history, meteorological phe-
nomena, topography, and the productions of Deolee with a scientific accuracy
which is most creditable to his general knowledge of those subjects.
His special report on the cholera outbreak of the year is also added to the
annual report of the regiment, and leaves nothing to be desired. It is entirely
free from dogmas ; it narrates clearly the first appearance, the progress, and
the decline of the epidemic, its general distribution and local peculiarities ; and
strives solely to reach the precise facts of the outbreak. The symptoms and
treatment are fully written up, and the writer's own opinions regarding the
sources of this terrible disease are given with becoming diffidence, and grounded
on personal observations.
Altogether, it is much to be regreted that Dr. Gunn's annual report of the
4th Bengal Cavalry cannot, owing to its length, be published entire ; to supply
extracts is to destroy half its interest.
II. Location and movements.—The head-quarters were stationed at Meerut from 1st Janu
-
ary till the 15th ; were marching en route to Deolee from 16th January till 17th February ;
and have beeen stationed at Deolee from 17th February to 31st December.
The head-quarters were encamped at Negdio, on the Bunas river, from 30th July till 29th
August, on account of an outbreak of cholera at Deolee.
VIII. Water-supply.—The water-supply of Deolee is not in a satisfactory state. Owing
to the great depth of the spring level and the hardness of the rock which has to he penetrated
before reaching it, the construction of a good well is expensive here, and only a very few com
-
pounds are provided with a well ; while of the total number of wells in Deolee, only a small
number contain really good potable water. I lately roughly analysed the water of the 4th
Bengal Cavalry wells, and found it be of good quality, and, with the exception of that of the
east well, to contain a scarcely appreciable quantity of organic matter. The water of the east
well is not at all bad ; but several samples of it yielded a more appreciable proportion of
chlorides and nitrates than the samples from the other wells. With the exception of the
" Nek-Chal," an artificial lake nearly a mile from the lines, there is no tank sufficiently near to
be conveniently available for bathing, and it is probable that the wells are used for this purpose.
The wells at Deolee are very subject to contamination by birds, especially by the blue rock-
pigeon, which breeds in some of the wells, and resorts to all in which the rock crevices have
not been filled up with lime plaster. The 4th Bengal Cavalry wells are protected by plaster
- i n g , a n d a s t h e y a r e n o t o v e r s h a d o w e d b y t r e e s , t h e y a l s o e s c a p e , t o a c e r t a i n e x t e n t , t h e
impurity caused by decaying vegetable matter, so frequent a source of water contamination in
India. They have sloping masonry platforms and troughs for watering animals, but are
unprovided with wooden covers.
M
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1873 . Meerut, November 1873
34.7
.6
1.1
1874
. Ditto .
. . . 172.
.6
5.1
1875
. Ditto . . . .
68.86
1.1
1.55
1876 . Ditto . . . .
75.58
1.09
1.95
1877
. Ditto . .
. .
28.27
.43
1.06
Average . .
75.88
.76
2.15
1878 . Deolee, 17th February .
129.39
2.19
3.33
Location and
movements.
Water-supply.
Medical
Officer.