NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
71
another site is selected and new lines constructed on the standard plan, the present high rate
of sickness may be expected to continue.
3. Conservancy is well attended to. The trench system is in force during the dry
season. From a sanitary point of view it seems to answer
pretty well, but the distance of the trenches from the lines being
370 yards, and the fact that the system is not in favour by the men and their women, are
disadvantages. In the Monsoon of 1875 temporary latrines were introduced, and have been
in use during the rainy seasons since, but as these places are rudely constructed, they are
both insanitary and uncomfortable. The only masonry work in their construction is the
horse-shoe shaped recesses for holding the pans. The flooring is liable to become soaked
with urine and the water used in ablution. At the annual meeting of the Committee for
reporting on station buildings, new permanent latrines were applied for, and they are really
urgently required.
4. A constant supply of good water is still a desideratum. The existing conditions as
regards water supply may be briefly stated as follows:—Water
is procurable from four wells in the vicinity of the lines and
from the river Sepra. One of these wells, viz. in the mess compound, contained a good
supply of water the whole year, but the quality of its water is very hard, and not pleasant to
the taste, containing about 44 grains to the gallon of dissolved matter, chiefly lime and
magnesia, in combination with chlorine and sulphuric acid. There is another well on the
bank of the river. In the month of June there was a scarcity of water in this well, it was
then cleaned and deepened, since which it has yielded a continuous supply of tolerably good
water. The other two Regimental wells, although considerably deeper than the level
of the bed of the river, contained very little water during the year, and what they did contain
was unfit for drinking purposes. At present they are almost dry. In the cold season and
for the greater part of the rainy season the river water is unquestionably preferable to that
of the wells, as it is less highly charged with mineral and organic impurities, and is more
pleasant to the taste. It cannot however be regarded as a first class water, and at all seasons
. should undergo filtration to complete its purification. In the hot season, when the flow
becomes sluggish, the river water is decidedly bad-in every respect; it is always turbid, and
being subject to the usual. sources of pollution to which rivers in this country are liable, it
cannot be free from organic impurities. Viewed in a glass vessel it is quite opaque, from the
presence of suspended matter, which takes three days to subside. In the rainy season, the
river water generally contains a considerable amount of suspended matter washed off the
banks by the stream; this however soon subsides, and the water is then fairly drinkable.
In the hot season the river water should not be used for drinking purposes, without first
having undergone filtration. From the above remarks it will be seen that there is great,
difficulty in procuring an adequate supply of good water in the hot season, the serviceable
wells having a tendency to get dry, and the river water to become bad. Deepening the wells
does not appear to have any effect in increasing the supply of water, so that the only remedy
I can suggest is to provide means for filtering the river water on a large scale, and the
supply thus obtained used by the Regiment for drinking purposes. It should be added that
there are several wells at some distance from the lines, which contain an abundant supply of
good water all the year round.
5. There is a small regimental bazaar from which the men may purchase supplies, but
unless they wish credit, they prefer to get their supplies from
the city of Mehidpore. There was a scarcity of vegetables in
the hot season, but during and after the rains native vegetables were to be had in considera--
ble abundance. The men also occasionally receive vegetables from the station garden.
The average monthly allowance to each fighting man as grain compensation for the year was
Rs. 2-2-2. Taking the following as an ideal diet scale for one man per diem, viz. mutton
8 oz., dhall 4 oz., wheaten flour 1 lb., rice 6½ oz., ghee 2½ oz., with a variable quantity of
vegetables, the. average cost for the year was at the rate of Rs. 6-8-0 per mensem, but it is
evident that men with families could hardly afford to adopt this scale. There has been no
change in the clothing of the men. The beneficial results arising from the adoption
of woollen socks for the feet, brought into use for the first time before the Regiment
marched to Delhi, are apparent from the diminution of admissions into hospital for
blistered feet.
6. The duties are the usual routine of parades, musketry and guard duty, an average
of about four morning parades and three evening parades per
week, and the annual course of musketry. The average num-
ber of consecutive nights in bed for all ranks was 6 1/11 There
is a gymnasium, and many of the men engaged in gymnastic practice under two competent
instructors. The recruits have a three mouths' course of instruction in gymnastics. The
Conservancy.
Water supply.
Food and clothing.
Duties, exercise, and amuse--
ments; their effects on health.