PRESIDENCY DIVISION, ADEN, AND BOMBAY MARINE.
5
H. M.'s 26th Regiment N. I.
MALTA.—In Medical charge of Surgeon Major G. Y. HUNTER and Surgeon H. EARLE.
Average Strength
706
Deaths in Hospital ...
9
Do.
Present
694
Do. out of do. ...
7
Admissions
1279
Invalided
... 54
Daily Sick
25.4
Sick Leave
21
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent. to Average Strength
Present of
Admissions.
Daily Sick.
Deaths in
Hospital.
1875
Surat
201.9
5.6
1.7
1876
Poona
132.5
5.1
0.8
1877
Do.
134.2
4.0
0.7
1878
Average...
156 . 2
4.9
1.1
Poona, Malta and Ahmed-
abad.
184 . 3
3.6
1.3
1. The first four months of the year the regiment was at Poona, and from the 2nd May to
the 12th of September, it was engaged in the Malta expedition.
After the regiment disembarked at Bombay on the return from
Cyprus, the head-quarter wing proceeded at once to Ahmedabad, the left wing going to
Tanna. There were no other movements of the Regiment during the year.
2. The lines occupied by the regiment while at Poona were bounded on the north by
Location and movements.
The lines and their surround-
ings; present condition, hygienic
and otherwise.
the lines of the 8th Regiment N. I., which being in close
proximity, do not admit of that free ventilation which is
ne c e s s a r y ; on t he s out h s i de t he y a r e b o u n d e d b y t h e l i n e s o f
the 5th Regiment N. I. ; on the east by the general parade ground, a large open plain, and on
the west by a smaller open space, through which runs a large nullah, carrying away all the
rain water during the monsoon. The ventilation east and west is excellent and is all that
is desirable for the comfortable location of a native regiment. The lines being erected on
elevated ground, with a good incline towards the western nullah, every facility is afforded in
the way of natural drainage. The lines occupied by the regiment while at Ahmedabad are
situated N. W. of the cantonment, they face S. E., and are in close proximity to the bazaar.
They are small, low and dark, and in the rains are damp and unhealthy, due to faulty
construction.
3. At Poona there are two latrines, situated about 183 yards west of the lines and to
Conservancy.
windward of them. The night-soil is removed early in the
morning by means of two iron tank-carts to a place beyond
camp limits, four miles distant to the east. The waste water from the sepoys' huts and the
bathing places is carried by small channels into open drains running along the sides of the
lines, and by them into a large nullah to the west of the lines. The rain water also runs off
in the same manner.
In Malta, while on the expedition, a latrine trench, about twenty yards long and four
or five feet deep, was dug. This was situated about 50 yards east of the camp, and was
medically inspected night and morning. This trench continued in use for about ten days,
when another such like trench was dug at the back and parallel to the former, about four or
five yards distant. In Cyprus the same conservancy arrangements were carried out. In
Ahmedabad there were three latrines, situated 250 yards west of the lines; the night-soil was
removed early every morning, about two miles beyond camp limits.
4. At Poona, good and abundant. No wells in camp have been used for drinking
Water supply.
purposes since the introduction of Kurruckwasla water, which
is supplied by means of three stand-pipes running into the
masonry reservoirs to the S. W. of the lines. The waste water from these runs into the
regimental gardens, and after irrigating them, the superfluous water flows into the nullah
adjoining the lines.
In Malta and Cyprus the water supply was good and abundant and was drawn from
wells close to the camp. In Ahmedabad there were six wells from which a good and
2 m