Hospital.
CABUL EXPEDITION.
101
3. Latrines are dug in a deep ravine to the rear and
leeward of the camp. They are at a distance of 600 yards from
the water-supply, and in a safe position.
.4. The water-supply is from the Dozan rivulet, which springs from rock some 600 yards
up a small nullah, which joins the Dozan Nullah about 600 yards
from the camp. From this spot it is carried in a channel in
the shingle on the left side of the nullah for some 500 yards, and then by an aqueduct to
Lower Dozan in the Bolan Pass. The water is clear and sparkling, but rather hard. A
small Brahoi outpost of some three or four men occupy a cave—the Dozan or Robber Cave—
in the rocks at the entrance of this nullah. But besides these there is no source of contami
- n a t i o n e x c e p t t h e f i l t h y o r c a r e l e s s h a b i t s o f t h e s e p o y s o r f o l l o w e r s . V e r y s t r i n g e n t o r d e r s
have been issued to prevent any one defiling the ground in the nullah, for fœcal deposits
would certainly be washed into the stream by the first heavy fall of rain. A guard has also
been placed over the water. With the comparatively small population now in Dozan I find
it difficult to keep the place in good sanitary condition, and when there were several thousand
people encamped in different parts of the nullah it must have been almost impossible.
5 . T h e s e p o y s h a v e b e e n s u p p l i e d w i t h r a t i o n s b y t h e C o m m i s s a r i a t o n t h e f o l l o w i n g
scale: Atta lbs. 1½ rice lbs.½, dhal ozs. 4, salt ozs. ⅔ , a n d
ghee ozs. 2. There have generally been one or two Banias
encamped here, but their supplies have been so meagre and dear that, speaking generally, it
may be said that the sepoys had nothing but their rations to live on except in the fruit sea
- s o n , w h e n l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s o f f r u i t s , g r a p e s , & c . , w e r e b r o u g h t i n f r o m M u s t o o n g a n d s o l d a t
moderate rates. The rations are deficient in anti-scorbutics, and hence, as reported by
Surgeon-Major Cates, a considerable number of men and followers became scorbutic, but
fortunately the fruits and vegetables brought from Mustoong rapidly removed this taint in
most; still nine men and thirty-seven followers were invalided for scurvy, and even now some
thirty or forty men show a decided scorbutic taint. The sepoys complained several times
that ooreed dhal caused diarrhœa and indigestion, and asked for toor or moong, which latter
is now often supplied. The rations, as I am informed, were of bad quality during the hot
weather, and this must have had a bad effect on the health of the men. Soon after I took
charge of the Regiment in November I found the flour and rice of bad quality, but recently
there have been no complaints.
6. The escort and ordinary guard duties do not appear to have been of such a nature as
to be prejudicial to the health of the men. But I find from the
monthly report that the work on the roads was very severe, and
in the opinion of Dr. Cates injurious to health. On enquiry
from the Adjutant, I find that in April and May, when the health of the Regiment, which
had been gradually deteriorating, became decidely bad, the average daily work was eight
hours. The nature of the work was laborious, consisting of heavy work in cutting roads on
hill-side, carrying stones to build up roads, &c., and it was done at a season of intense heat and
without any rest-days until the officer in medical charge recommended a reduction of the hours
of labour, and a cessation of work for at least a week. I have not at hand any means of
calculating the value of the rations, but if it was constructed to meet the ordinary work of
the sepoy soldiers, it must have been insufficient to supply energy for the very hard work
I have just alluded to. No addition was made to it by the Commissariat, and, as stated
above, there was no local market from which the sepoys could supplement the ration.
The ration contains probably from 270 to 300 grains of nitrogen and upwards of 6,000
grains of carbon. If this is correct, it is not a sufficient diet for men doing so hard work as
the sepoys were called upon to do for a prolonged period, and at an exhausting season.
The diet should have been made up to nearly 400 grains of nitrogen. It would, I think, be
sound economy to allow native soldiers doing hard work under the conditions which
obtained last year a ration of meat—8 ozs. would be sufficient. And onions, potatoes, or other
anti-scorbutics should also be supplied. It is also worthy of consideration whether the
sepoys should not be given firewood. On a consideration of all the facts, it may, I think, be
affirmed that the work done by the Regiment was injurious to its health.
7. The general health of the Regiment was good at the commencement of the year,
and continued so till May, when it began rapidly to fall off,
and in June may be said to have been decidedly bad. From
August it rapidly improved, the favourable change being due to cooler weather, easier work,
and supply of fresh fruits and vegetables from Mustoong. The health is now on the
whole good. The physique of the Regiment is about the average. Of the recruits those
from the Sind Police are of good physique; some of the others are not of robust frame.
8. There is nothing to remark about the hospital.
Conservancy..
Water-supply.
Food-supply.
Duties, exercise, and amuse
-ments, &c.
General health and physique.