87
S I N D D I V I S I O N O F T H E A R M Y .
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent. to Average Strength
present of
Admissions.
Daily Sick.
Deaths in
H o s p i t a l .
1876 . . .
Belgaum . . .
187.7
3.7
. . .
1877 . . .
Poona . . .
139.7
3.1
0.8
1878 . . .
D o . . . .
153.3
3.6
0.6
Average . . .
160.2
3.4
0.4
1879 . . .
Kurrachee . . .
138.0
3.0
1.2
1. During 1879 the Regiment had been at Kurrachee. Detachments were sent (1)
soon after arrival to Hydrabad; (2) a detachment with the
Commissioner's Camp; (3) a large detachment to Sukkur; and
(4) a detachment of 1½ companies to Jacobabad. There were also volunteers sent to the
Transport Train.
2—5. The lines and their surroundings, &c., were entered into most fully in the report
for 1878, forwarded last year, as was also the conservancy estab
-lishment and mode of working. The water-supply, sources, and
manner of distribution is unaltered, so the general health and
physique of the men of the Regiment will be spoken of, and
an account of causes of death and disease given.
6. The men are of various tribes; most are vegetarians, using a large amount of oil
and ghee with their food. Only a few are such strict vege
-
tarians that they take no meat whatsoever or fresh fish. Of
those admitted for treatment, all were meat-eaters, except five, who never ate meat. This is
said to be the truth, but at the same time most of the meat-eaters say that they never
bought meat, and only partake of it when at a feast or if it is given to them, so about
a fourth part only are in the habit of taking meat as part of their weekly diet. Of those who
died reports have been given in the weekly remarks and casualty reports.
7. There has been great difficulty in making the sepoys take food often enough; that is
to say, the custom of their caste is to feed only once a day. At
that meal the abdomen is filled abnormally to a great protu
-berance. If the animal is then, like the snake, allowed to rest and sleep till digestion is com
-pleted, nature may get accustomed to such mode of nutrition, but if the digestion is disturbed
and the sepoy is sent on sentry duty, indigestion (fever), heat of skin, diarrhœa, and subse
-quent dyspepsia will be the result. This is a great source of sickness. The second great
difficulty is in getting the men to buy good, therefore, comparatively in price, expensive, in
preference to inferior and cheaper grain and ghee. Thirdly, spending their wages on amuse
-ments to the detriment of their bodies. Strongly, therefore, it is to be considered whether
a free ration of 2 ozs. of ghee with rice and dhal, salt and spices alternating with seconds flour,
and 6 ozs. of meat with spices and salt would not in the results be more satisfactory to Go
-vernment and for the benefit of the sepoy's health and well-being generally. The size of the
men is good. Physique is good and capabilities according to stamina, which is from mode of
life.
8. During the year there have been two distinct epidemics of fever, and cholera was pre
-valent for some time. There has been very little rain. The
remains at the bottom of the tanks were most offensive. How
can it be otherwise ? Although there are nuisance-inspectors, yet there is not a maidan which
is not made available for purposes of nature, perhaps to a less degree than in the neighbour
-hood of towns in the districts, but still they are not free from defilement, and every arch of
each bridge is used as a latrine. There the ordure dries, for it is not removed, so far as I
am aware of. The first fall of rain washes all this filth into the nearest tank. Is it aston
-ishing, therefore, that fever and cholera were present ?
Location and movements.
The lines and their surround
-ings; present condition, hygienic
or otherwise.
General health and physique.
Food and clothing.
Epidemics.