62
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Inspection by Deputy Surgeon General BEATTY.
The 11th Regiment N. I., which had been quartered at Bhuj since 1873, arrived at
Poona on the 10th of November 1878, and occupied the lines vacated by the 26th Regiment
N. I. My annual inspection was held on the 18th of the same month. On that date 145
patients were in hospital on account of fever. The sanitary state of the lines is carefully
attended to, and the water supply excellent. The general health of the men has been
extremely bad. Owing to a lengthened residence in Bhuj during an exceptionally unhealthy
season, fever alone, of a pernicious type, was the cause of 1,686 admissions. These occurred
chiefly during the months of September, October, November, and December. The general
wasting of the body, and sickly appearance of many of the men on arrival, were strongly
indicative of their having suffered not only from malarious influences, but voluntary starvation,
and though considerable improvement in the general health has taken place since their first
arrival at Poona, the low physique of many of them has continued unimproved. The hospi-
tal is sufficiently commodious to accommodate 30 patients. The walls and beddings were
covered with dust, which owing to the defects of mud-flooring, it is found impossible to
avoid. Neither the hospital records, nor diaries of cases had been carefully kept. This
neglect has been rectified by the officer at present in medical charge.
H. M.'s 16th Regiment N. I.
NUSSEERABAD. —In Medical charge of Surgeon W. C. K1ERNANDER.
Average Strength
728
Do.
Present
683
Admissions
1,990
Daily Sick
80.5
Deaths in Hospital
1 2 1 2
1 2
Do. out of do.
3
Invalided
... 40
Sick Leave
28
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent. to Average Strength
Present of
Admissions.
Daily Sick.
Deaths in
Hospital.
1875
Mhow
137.6
4.2
0.7
1876
Nusseeraba d
200.4
6.0
0.6
1877
Do.
124.4
3.3
0.4
1878
....
Average...
154.1
4.5
0.6
Nusseerabad
291.3
11.7
1.8
Location and movements.
1. The regiment was stationed at Nusseerabad through
-out the year.
2. The lines, built on the standard plan, are clean, and in good repair. The roof is
single tiled, and the plinth is low. Bathing water from the
married men’s quarters passes to trees planted in front of the
huts. With the exception of the erection of three urinals, no
alterations have been made in the lines since last report. The
regimental bazaar is Kept clean, in good repair.
3. There are permanent latrines for the women and children, but the men use trenches.
The lines, and their surround-
ings, present condition, hygienic
and otherwise.
Conservancy.
The filth from the latrines is carted away out of tile limits of
the cantonment. No nuisance has been occasioned by its
disposal.
4. Water supply, derived from wells, was abundant. The favourite water with the
Water supply.
men was that from the Mahadev well, situated in a grove of
trees near the Railway Station. A small quantity of Dilwara
water was brought in daily tor the use of the regiment, and the wells in the vicinity of the
lines were also used by the men. With the exception of Dilwara, the water in all the wells
was more or less brackish.
5. The prices of provisions were not so dear as last year, but the food was of inferior
Food and clothing.
quality. Vegetables were very scarce and dear. The shoes of
the sepoys fit badly and occasion numerous shoe-bites.