70 MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
on duty to Kaladgi, remaining there until the 11th December 1879, when, being relieved
by the C Company, it returned to head-quarters. The latter company still remains at
Kaladgi.
2. The lines, which were built in 1875 on the standard plan, are everything that
can be desired. The houses are well built on raised plinths;
The lines and surroundings; they are spacious, well ventilated, and are kept neat and
present condition, hygienic or clean; the surface drains are carefully looked after, and no
otherwise water is allowed to stagnate. The regimental bazaar, situated
about 200 yards to the south-west of the lines, has been kept during the past year in a very
good sanitary condition.
3. The conservancy arrangements were well carried out. The trench system was the
one used, and certainly during the cold and hot seasons
Conservancy. nothing could have answered better; but during the rains this
system suffers from many disadvantages. The latrines are situated about 250 yards to the
south-west of the lines, and those using them were exposed during the monsoon to the incle
- m e n c y o f t h e w e a t h e r w h e n p r o c e e d i n g t h e r e . I n a d d i t i o n t h e g r o u n d b e c o m e s s l o p p y a t t h i s
season, and it is almost impossible to procure dry earth, the deodorizing property of that used
is consequently much lessened.
4. Capital water is obtained from four wells in camp. It is easily procured and in suffi-
cient quantity. One well is for the Purwaries, another for the
Water-supply.
hospital establishment, which was built last year, but is not
sufficiently deep, and consequently runs dry in the hot season; a third well is for Hindoos
and Mussulmans, and the fourth is principally used by European officers. All the wells
have a pucka built coping, and they have a paving for about 15 feet all round, which slopes
down on t he out s i de a nd e nds i n a s ur f a c e dr a i n, whi c h c a r r i e s a wa y t he s ur pl us wa t e r .
5. Both grain and vegetables were cheap during the year, though the latter were not
very plentiful in the market. The highest grain compensation
Food and clothing.
was given in the month of May, when it reached the sum of
Rs. 3-4-0, and the lowest was in the month of November, when it was Rs. 2-13-6.
The clothing of the men seems to be ample at present, though when they first arrived
from Surat a 'great many suffered from the great change of temperature, and were quite
unprepared with warmer clothing than they were accustomed to in the former station.
6. The duties of the men are light. There is no workshop, and with the exception of
a gymnasium, they have no means of amusement. I think
Duties, exercises, and amuse- this is very much to be regretted, as the men, not having any
ments; their effect on health. legitimate occupations between parades, ramble into the town,
contracting irregular habits and swelling the number of admissions to hospital for syphilis.
7. The hospital has been so well described in former reports, that it is only necessary
for me to say that it is kept neat and clean, that the conser-
Hospital and its immediate sur-
or otherwise.
vancy arrangements are well carried out, and the lighting,
gienic
roundings ; present c
ondition, hy- ventilation, &c., are perfect. A stone floor has been sanc-
tioned, and is now being laid down. This will be a great
improvement. The only defect I see connected with the hospital is the absence of shutters
for the windows of the Ophthalmic Ward. The windows at present are coated with blue
paint, but this gradually gets worn away, or is scratched off by patients.
8. Since their arrival from Surat, the men have very much improved in physique.
They suffered very much in that station from malaria, owing
General health and physique. to the enervating climate, the impure water, and the badly
constructed lines. Even yet a good many suffer from scorbutic taint, though, taking the
Regiment as a whole, they are a fine able-bodied men. The recruits who have lately
j o i n e d a r e b e y o n d t h e a v e r a g e .
9. Nothing can better show the beneficial effect on the health of the Regiment pro
- d u c e d b y t h e i r c h a n g e t o t h i s b r a c i n g c l i m a t e t h a n t h e g r e a t
Influence of climate or local decrease in sickness since its arrival here. In 1877 there were
circumstances on health.
1,501 admissions from all causes. In 1878 there were 1,130,
whereas for the year under notice only 617 cases were admitted into hospital.
10.Of the 617 cases, as many as 254 were admitted for ague quotidian, only 11 for
ague tertian, and there were only 6 cases of remittent fever.
Details of treated.There were 46 cases of chronic rheumatism, 37 cases of primary,
but only 3 of secondary, syphilis. Dysentery gave 34 admis
- s i o n s , a n d c o n t u s i o n s , p r i n c i p a l l y s h o e - b i t e s , 3 2 . T h e r e w e r e a l s o 1 4 c a s e s o f s p r a i n s a n d
15 cases of bronchitis.