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MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
1. The head-quarters has been into the interior twice on duty during the year.
2. 'The line is situated at the western side of the hospital, site is good, and the whole
of the pendals have been in good repair during the year.
3. There is one latrine attached to the hospital; it is kept very clean and the night-soil
is removed three times a day.
• •
4. Two gallons of condensed water and3 gallons of Shaik Othman water (brackish) ;
both qualities are good of their kind and the quantity is deemed sufficient.
5. Rations are not issued to men of the “ Aden Troop.” Khakee or white clothing for
the hot, and cloth for the cold season, are well adapted for the climate.
6. Ordinary Guard duties and patrolling in the interior. The men practise athletic
sports and sword exercise on holidays and twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which
appears to do them much good, and improves their health.
7. An excellent hospital is in use with accommodation for 12 patients, and it gives a
cubic space for each patient of 3212.3 cubic feet. The accommodation is good. The Deputy
Surgeon General on his late inspection reported as follows :—
“ The hospital and surroundings are in good order, and the new asphalte flooring is a
great improvement. The Hospital Assistant being a married man, requires more accommo-
dation than his predecessor, and now occupies two rooms, one of which was formerly used
by the dooly bearers. The latter now occupy what was formerly the cook-room, and what
was formerly the bath-room is now used as a cook-room, the result being there is no bath-
room. This cannot be remedied unless second class servants’ houses are built. At present
the dooly bearers are accommodated as above, and in a compartment originally intended for
but unfitted for a dead-house. The other servants, a goorgah and a sweeper, live where
they can.”
8. With the exception of the large number of admissions in the months of April and
May 1878, the general health of the Troop during the year has been good and fit for active
service.
9. The climate is very healthy, and the prevailing winds N. E. and S. W. at the dif-
ferent seasons of the year, render the atmosphere agreeably cool and pleasant, except in the
hot months, when it is sometimes very close and oppressive.
10. The number of men treated in hospital during the year was 194, being an increase
of 32 on the year preceding : this increase occurred in the months of April and May, and is
attributable to the Troop having proceeded on service into the interior early in April, the
weather being then hotter than usual.
11. No deaths occurred in the hospital or in the lines; but 1 sowar died of chronic
hepatitis on sick leave and shortly after leaving Aden.
12. There has been no epidemic during the year.
13. Four children have been successfully vaccinated during the year. No re-vaccina-
tion has been performed.
14. Three men were invalided—1 sowar from chronic rheumatism, 1 lance duffadar from
scurvy and general debility, and 1 farrier from keratitis ; one sowar was discharged with
gratuity on account of enlarged spleen and general debility.
15. Quarters for the second class hospital servants are required, as noted by the Deputy
Surgeon General.
16. I have no remark to offer under this heading, except that the sanitation would be
improved by the erection of quarters for the second class hospital servants.
H. M.’s 17th Regiment N. I.
SURAT.—In Medical charge of Surgeon-Major G. F. H. BROWN.
Average Strength
700
Deaths in Hospital
5
Do.
Present
668
Do. out of do.
3
Admissions
1,130
Invalided
26
Daily Sick
24.7
Sick Leave
.
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