96
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
1. Has been on service all the year. The head-quarters having left Jacobabad
in February and the wing Sukkur in March, has been broken
up into small detachments along the line of communications
from Jacobabad to Quetta, with escort parties in movement all the year. Head-quarters
were from April to end of June at Mach; then at Dozan till the end of September; in Quetta
during October, and then back to Ser-i-Bolan for November and December. No account
can be given of movement of detachments, as there was seldom more than 200 men with
head-quarters, the remainder of the Regiment being employed at different parts of the Bolan
and Kutchee, and always in movement.
2. The quantity of rations issued to native troops during the present campaign has been
fully ample, though in my opinion it should have been of better
quality and more varied in character, more especially in the
case of the men under my immediate notice, who are always accustomed to the consumption
of meat, fish, and condiments. As it was, during the greater part of last year the Regiment
was located in the Bolan Pass, where there were no facilities for the men to vary their diet
from private resources, and consequently scorbutic affections were greatly prevalent.
I would suggest that in place of the daily issue of 4 ozs. dhal, that 6 ozs. of meat should
be given twice weekly and 6 ozs. of dried fish on one day. Also that a small quantity of
native condiments should be allowed in the daily ration, and that some anti-scorbutic, such as
tamarind, might be given, at least twice a week, in places where vegetables are unobtainable.
If the ration sanctioned for Bombay troops serving at Aden had been issued to the
troops in this campaign, I am fully convinced that their efficiency would have been greatly
increased, for, putting on one side admissions into hospital from fever and ague, which
one must always look to amongst native troops, more than a fourth of the other men admit
- t e d w e r e w i t h a f f e c t i o n s o f s c o r b u t i c o r i g i n . I d o n o t i m a g i n e t h a t t h e A d e n r a t i o n i s
much more expensive than the one issued to our men, for the quantity of each article is not
so large. Altogether the total quantity in each case is about the same.
I would also suggest that when native troops are largely employed on road-making and
field works that a bi-weekly issue of rum or arrack should be made, as the improvement
in the health of the Regiment during November and December, when this issue was made,
was most marked.
The pr esent syst em of cl ot hi ng t he Bombay t r oops i s, i n my opi ni on, most f aul t y, t he
tight-fitting red tunic and cloth trousersbeing quite unfitted for the wear and tear of field
service, putting out of the question the extra work it entails on the men to keep them in
repair and clean.
I would recommend that all troops serving in the field should have two suits of strong
khakee or sail cloth, the coat to be made in the shape of a loose blouse and the trousers to
be a modified form of knickerbocker, very loose about the hips and thighs, and to button
tight from below the knee to the ankle.
The advantages that may be claimed for having the clothes made loose are that the
movements of the body are unimpaired, that they are cool in the hot weather, and permit of
the wearer putting on all his warm under-clothing in the winter, which the present red coat
does not without undue tightness over the chest.
With regard to the different kinds of boots and shoes in use in the Native Army, I
consider the English ammunition boots in a modified form to be the best, but I would suggest
that a different system should be adopted in their make to suit the native foot, which is
broader and lower in the instep than that of a European. I have noticed that those men
who have had ammunition boots that fitted properly have suffered less from shoe-bite than
any other, as the leather is so superior to any prepared in this country, that the boots do
not become hard and unpliable, as those made of country leather do, both during the pre
-valence of hot winds and wet weather.
The warm clothing issued has been fully sufficient for any cold that has been experi
- e n c e d , b u t I t h i n k t h a t a n e x t r a b l a n k e t p e r m a n s h o u l d b e c a r r i e d b y t h e R e g i m e n t i n c a s e
of any necessity for camping oat or very severe cold being experienced. With regard to the
warm clothes issued to the followers, I would state the native cumblees which are given them
are, in my opinion, utterly useless, as from the openness of the texture they cannot possibly
either keep out the cold or prevent the natural heat of the body escaping. The same
remarks also applying to the trousers with which many of the followers were supplied, as
from being made of cumblee they were open to the same objections. The wadded coat and
trousers were, however, all that could be desired.
I would recommend that all followers should be supplied with stockings similar to the
sepoy's, and that more care should be taken in the selection and fitting of the shoes issued,
which were in most cases of the very poorest description, quite unfitted to withstand the wear
o f m a r c h i n g , a n d f a l l i n g t o p i e c e s i n a f e w d a y s . T O s h o w h o w b a d l y t h e f o l l o w e r s h a v e b e e n
treated with regard to the coverings for their feet, I may mention that 35 out of 40 dooly-
Location and movements.
Food and clothing.