NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
81
3. The conservancy is effectually carried out. There are two well-built latrines
situated about 150 yards to the North-East of the lines. One
of these is for the males and has nineteen seats; the other
is for the females and has eight seats. They are washed and cleaned three times a day.
Dry earth is used as a deodorant and disinfectant. The solid excreta, and dirty water,
which is kept separate from the solid excreta, and collected in receptacles made for the
purpose, are carted away out of the limits of the cantonment, and buried in pits. The Native
officers' latrines are situated westward of their quarters, and are kept very clean.
4. The water supply is very abundant, and is derived from two wells in the vicinity
of the lines. The wells have been cleaned out and deepened
since last report. One of them is about 10 yards from the
South end of the lines, is 48 feet deep, and has 12 feet of water. The other is near the
hospital, is 46 feet deep, and has 13 feet of water. The water appears to be of good quality,
but no analysis has been made for want of apparatus.
5. Vegetables are very scarce and dear here. The prices of the principal articles of
consumption are almost the same as reported last year. On
account of the continued dearness of provisions, some of the
married men are suffering from the effects of insufficiency of proper food. There were many
applicants for shoe-leave during the year, on account of bites caused by ill-fitting boots.
6. The duties are lighter here than at head-quarters. There has been only one large
guard at night, and that is over the jail. The men get
4/2·5/9nights in bed during the week. The duties do not produce any
ill effects. There is no gymnasium here, which is greatly required.
7. The hospital is situated about 80 yards to the North of the lines. As it is construct
-ed to hold only eight patients, it is too small to accommodate
all the sick of the detachment. During the month of October
last, the accommodation was hardly sufficient, even after
utilizing the verandahs, store and bath-rooms, and the cook-
rooms. Ventilation is natural and good, but is liable to become defective in the cold
weather if the doors be closed to avoid draughts on the patients, as there are no ventilators.
There is a small latrine attached to the hospital, carbolic acid and McDougall's powder are
used to disinfect the excreta, which are subsequently removed and disposed of in the same
manner as stated of the line latrines. As there are no wards or separate buildings for the
isolation of the sick attacked with contagious diseases, a tent is required to be pitched for
such cases when they occur. There are no quarters for the Native Medical Pupil and
hospital sweeper.
8. The general health and physique of the men of the Wing 23rd Regiment N. L.
I. was good. The same cannot be said of the Wing 6th Regi
-ment N. I. that is at present stationed here, as eight deaths
have occurred from cholera, and the men have suffered considerably from ague. As cholera
was prevalent round about Mhow and Indore, the men probably caught it whilst on the march
from Mhow to Indore, the change from the climate of Aden to this malarious locality, the
arrival of the Wing a month before the setting in of the rainy season, and thus the men being
subjected to the anti-hygienic conditions arising from the influence of the unusual and
excessive rainfall on this soft cotton soil, have been important factors in the causation of the
unsatisfactory results as regards the health of this Wing. Many of the men show signs of
a scorbutic taint, which they seem to have acquired while at Aden. With some few
exceptions the men of this Wing do not appear to be fit for active service, particularly in a
cold climate.
9. The total rainfall during the year under report was 49 inches and 49 cents, against
22 inches and 96 cents in the preceding year. The influence
of this enormous rainfall on the health of the troops stationed
here has been very bad. The European detachment that was stationed here also suffered
from cholera and fever to such an extent as to necessitate its removal to Assirgurh.
10. The total number of admissions into the hospital from all causes in both detach-
ments was 411, against 268 admissions during the year 1877.
Malarious fevers were more prevalent than during the previous
year, and furnished, as usual, the largest number of admissions. The total number of ague
cases in both Wings was 245. The largest number of cases occurred in the months of June,
September, and October. There was only one admission from remittent fever. The case
was complicated with head symptoms and ended fatally. Bowel complaints come next in
the order of frequency. Diarrhœa furnished 18 cases, colic 29, a mild form of dysentery 15,
and dyspepsia 2 cases. There were twenty admissions from contusion, and fourteen from
cholera.
21 m
Conservancy.
Water supply.
Food and clothing.
Duties, exercise, and amuse
-ments; their effects on health.
Hospital and its immediate
surroundings; present condition,
hygienic or otherwise.
General health and physique.
Influence of climate.
Details of treated.