51
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
1. The head-quarters of H. M.'s 6th Regiment N. I. arrived in Mhow from Aden
Location and movements.
on the 27th December 1877; the second detachment on the
21st January 1878; the third on the 17th February 1878 ; and
the fourth on the 7th April 1878. The Right Half Battalion marched to Indore on the 13th
May 1878, and has been located there since.
2. There have been no changes during the year. The same defects are to be observed
The lines, &c.
in them as before. They are built on a plain, the soil being
blank " cotton_" and retentive of moisture. The streets run
with north and south, and are therefore not ventilated properly by the prevailing wind.
The huts are low, single tiled, and without plinths, and built of mud and sunburnt bricks,
hence they are very damp during and after the rains, which circumstance predisposes the
inmates to attacks of malarious fevers and chest affections. There are no windows at the
back ; there is no roof ventilation except through the crevices between tiles, and the door-
way is not high enough ; hence ventilation is defective. The cubic space is deficient. Most
of the married men and some of the bachelors were induced by the Officer Commanding
and by myself to lay out little gardens in front of the huts, in order to utilize the waste water.
The rain water was carried off from near the huts down a slope on the streets, a gutter in
the middle, and by which it was carried into the nuliahs.
3. The trench latrine system was in use from the beginning of the year up to the setting
Conservancy.
in of the rains. The ground is limited in extent and therefore
likely soon to be injurious if not allowed rest. Urinals ough--t
to be built near the huts. This suggestion was made to me by Deputy Surgeon General.
Wyllie, and I entirely agree with him as to their utility. The permanent latrines have been
in use since the rains. They were kept perfectly clean and dry earth was used for disinfec-
tion. The night soil was carted away to a distance of about three miles and buried in
trenches. The only drawback to these latrines is that they are too far from the lines. The
native officers have separate latrines in rear of their huts, which were also kept clean.
4 This was derived from three wells. The supply threatened to fall short of the demand
Water supply.
during the hot weather, but the copious tall of rain we had
removed all anxiety on that score. One of the three wells,
which is used by "Mochees," is very near the latrines of the 13th Regiment N. I.; another,
which is used by " Purwarees," is near the hospital latrine.
5. Provisions were scarce and dear and vegetables particularly so. The men, coming.
Food and clothing.
from Aden, where they were in the habit of getting Govern-
ment rations in addition to their uav, felt this very much.
even though compensation was allowed. Their children and dependents consumed the greater
part of their pay. The recent order of Government not to allow more than a certain number
of dependents in the lines, and to prohibit the pensioners from living in the lines, was a very
wise one, and will no doubt benefit the sepoy considerably.
6. Duties consisted of parades, musketry instruction, drills, guards, &c., and in the
Duties.
months of April and May, tile-turning and hut repairing.
There were no amusements of any kind, as the men had no time
or inclination for them.
7. There were no changes made in this. Accommodation, ventilation and sanitary
Hospital building.
condition were excellent. The wards were very cold during
the rains and the cold weather owing to excessive ventilation.
White-washing, and hero and there sundry plastering to the walls and floor, were the only
repairs done. The surroundings of the hospital were in a good sanitary condition. The
hospital latrine was kept clean and disinfected by McDougal's powder and carbolic acid.
The water supply for the hospital was good and abundant, and was derived from the best
regimental well. The Hospital Assistant's quarters are not properly ventilated ; otherwise
they were in excellent condition.
8 and 9. The physique of the men could hardly be said to be good. Most of the men,
General health and physique.
though not positively ill, seemed to me to be anæmic, scorbutic
and possessed of low vitality. Surgeon Major Rogers often
remarked their feeble power of resisting the inroads of disease. I believe all this to be
due to the combined result of the enervating effects of the climate of Aden, where they late-
ly were stationed, and of the dearness of provisions here. Moreover, I respectfully submit it
as my opinion, that for a regiment coming from Aden, the climate of Mhow, characterized as
it is by dryness of air and excessive changes of temperature, is hardly well suited. Out
of 32 men under fifteen years' service who volunteered for active service, 17 were rejected,
principally because they had scorbutic taint, feeble hearts, and general debility, and presumed
inability to stand the trying climate of the north; and only 15 were thought fit by a Special
Medical Board assembled for the purpose of examining them. Most of the deaths that