48
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
2. The lines are built on the standard plan, they are clean, properly ventilated, roomy,
Lines and their surroundings,
present condition, hygienic and
otherwise.
and in excellent repair. The drainage is all surface, the bathing
and refuse water from the huts passes through narrow channels,
covered over with tiles, to the roots of trees which are planted
and are flourishing close to each house. The ground around the lines is kept very clean
and in good order. They are the most comfortable lines I have seen.
3. The native officers have latrines in their own huts, and in them the dry earth system
is adopted; these private latrines are occasionally inspected
and have always been found clean and in good order. Two
stone built latrines, about 140 yards from the lines, are used—one by the men, the other
by the women and children of the Battery. The last named latrines are cleaned out twice
daily and the night-soil is removed in large covered iron pans and conveyed away in the
conservancy cart to a distance of more than one mile, well out of camp limits and any habita-
tion, where it is buried in pits. The conservancy both of the lines and latrines is well looked
after, and there are now no complaints.
4. This is from wells. On account of the heavy fall of rain last season the supply is
Conservancy.
Water supply.
abundant and excellent, and there is every probability of its
continuing so until next rains.
5. Mutton and the various grains are, just now, at famine price. Vegetables that
promised to be abundant, are not now procurable, the entire
crop having been eaten up by a large flock of locusts that
has been hovering about here for some time past. The uniform worn by the men is made
of dark slate coloured khakee, the tunic is light, loose, comfortable, and is well suited for
the men.
6. Gun-drill, morning parades, and stables are the principal duties. They are by no
Food and clothing.
Duties, exercise, and amuse-
ments ; their effects on health.
means excessive, but tend to promote a healthy influence on the
physique of the men. There is a gymnasium in close proxi-
mity to the lines, in which the men daily go through
various exercises.
7. The sick, as a general rule, have suitable and sufficient space in the hospital
Hospital and its immediate
surroundings, present condition,
hygienic and otherwise.
common to the squadron of Cavalry and head-quarter Wing .
II. M.'s 7th Regiment N. I., but this year, during the months
of October, November and December, on account of the extra-
ordinary large number of fever eases that had to be attended
to, a number of tents had to be pitched, close to the permanent building, in which a large
proportion of the cases were treated, and thus prevented overcrowding. The hospital build-
ing is a very fair one, well ventilated and kept in good repair. The quarters for the
Hospital Assistants arc in a very dilapidated state, and require a good deal of repair. The mud
walls surrounding this building tumbled down last rains, and the place is not only uninhabit-
able, but is an eyesore to the station. The latrine common to this hospital still remains
in its objectionable and dangerous site, in close proximity to the finest well in the station.
I reported this latrine over five years ago and repeated doing so in every report I have since
written; my representations have been so far successful that the latrine has been condemned
and ordered to be removed, but the workmen have not yet commenced.
8. The general health of the corps was excellent up to the latter end of the rains ; in
September intermittent fever became prevalent, and. since then
the Battery has suffered much. The fever has left the men weak
and anaemic-looking, but I trust, now that the disease is on the decline, the men will soon
regain their former fine, robust and muscular appearance. They are a very fine body of
picked men, but, as I have said before, malarious fever has told much against their present
appearance. In September ague commenced to be prevalent and continued to increase
during the following three months,. giving a number of admissions as follows :—September
16, October 66, November 64, December 3-1; total 180, Thirty-eight admissions from
other causes makes the total 218 for the last four months of the year. Intermittent fever
(in the majority of the cases of the quotidian variety) provided no less than 105 of the 200
cases treated. Simple fever gave 18; these were, as usual, the prevailing diseases. Slight
contusions from kicks by mules and. shoe bite - s, 20 cases. Dysentery 7, diarrhoea 7,
acute rheumatism 3, chronic rheumatism 3, conjunctivitis 3. The corps shows a lower stand-
ard of health than it has done for many years. The total number of admissions from all
causes during the past year was 287, while for 1877 only 72 with a. similar strength 117. The
Battery is, with few exceptions, fit for active service.
General health and physique.