82
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT FOR THE NATIVE -ARMY OF BOMBAY.
The water is pumped by steam power from the river Indus into a tank. From thence
it passes along a covered aqueduct 2½ miles in length, to be
Water-supply.
again pumped on to the Cantonment level. In this way the
suspended matters—the chief impurity of the Indus water—are deposited during its transit,
and for the greater part of the year during which it has been thus used the water has been
found excellent. In February last, while the river was low, the water was found contaminated
by vegetable matters, but this has been obviated by the cutting of a more perfect channel
down to the river's stream and by rejecting the first water drawn up in the morning. Supply
ample.
5. Grain has been dear throughout the year, though cheaper than during the previous
two years. Wheat has averaged about 17 lbs. the rupee to the
Food and clothing.
sepoy. Vegetables of all kinds are plentiful, and have pro
- d u c e d a m o s t b e n e f i c i a l c h a n g e i n t h e h e a l t h o f t h e m e n , w h o w e r e a l l m o r e o r l e s s s c o r b u t i c
on arriving in Sind. Meat also is fairly cheap and of good quality. The men appear to like
the clothing, and no discomfort is complained of concerning it. The boots are, however, hard
and often ill-fitting.
6. In Hyderabad the duties have consisted of the ordinary guards, &c., and have been
in no way prejudicial to health. In Sukkur, in consequence
Duties, exercises, &c. of the small force present and the number of guards required,
the men were very hard-worked, the number of consecutive nights in bed sinking as low
a s 2 ½ o n t w o o r t h r e e o c c a s i o n s . E s c o r t s o f t r e a s u r e a n d t r a n s p o r t w e r e f r e q u e n t l y s e n t u p
as far as Dadur, and so trying were the duties connected with this service, particularly in
climate where the midday temperature in double tents during day averaged 110° Farh., that
the major portion of such parties were compelled to pass a certain time in hospital on
their return, suffering from fever, Sind ulcers, and debility.
The amusements in the lines have been few, the men as a general rule being too debilitated
to indulge in gymnastic exercises when off duty. Bathing was much resorted to in Sukkur,
and appeared to exercise a very excellent effect on the men's health.
7. The hospital at Sukkur was a building similar to those occupied by the troops
The hospital, its immediate sur- described above. In size and coolness it answered its purpose
roundings; present condition, well, and it was, however, like the other buildings, unfortunate
&C.in its surroundings.
The hospital at Hydrabad is a long mud building, capable of accommodating between
65 to 75 patients, giving an air space of 1,000 cubic feet to each. It is built on a mud
plinth of only 6 inches height. The ventilation is excellent by ten wind-catchers, and a
sufficient number of doors in front and rear. It is only 100 feet from the lines, which is rather
objectionable, and is not quite raised enough from the ground. It remains in good repair.
The latrine is in a line with the hospital, built of mud and having merely chunammed
depressions as receptacles. The chunam frequently cracks and breaks away, allowing soakage.
There is no nulla posteriorly for the reception of fluids ; it is therefore exceedingly difficult
to keep in good sanitary condition. There is a good dead-house to the leeward of the hospital.
8. This of necessity is of a somewhat low standard. Recruiting is now going on satis-
factorily, but the result of the large amount of ague both last
General health and physique. year and in the present one telling on one wing, while the
influences of climate and duties hardly to be surpassed in severity by actual warfare acting on
the other, have natually reduced the general health and physique to a somewhat low status.
9. Within three weeks of the arrival of the Right Wing in Sukkur there was a hospital
of 29 patients, all suffering from dysentery or diarrhœa. The
Influence of climate or local
.
on
circumstances i
clowness of the river and its consequent contamination by various
foreign matters was no doubt a predisposing cause, but not an
exciting one, as the townspeople did not suffer to nearly .the same degree. Without doubt
the exciting cause was the peculiar atmospheric condition which then obtained. Thus a
considerable heat prevailed during the day, broken on two or three occasions by sharp
showers of rain, followed at night by severe cold. This not only condensed all vapours, and
with them the large amount of ammoniacal gas which was unavoidably present in the air,
but by the difference of temperature between the interior and exterior of the tent, acted as
an aspirator, raising noxious vapours from the ground and causing frequent chills.
This was obviated to a great extent among the European troops by the use of tent
cloths on the ground. During a fortnight in tents the admissions for these diseases were 34.
During a similar period shortly after moving into barracks, 3.
In Hydrabad the light duties and tolerable climate acted very favourably on the Left
Wing up till the month of September, when malarial fever began to make its appearance.
This station suffers considerably from malarial influences nearly every year, and for three