63
POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
H. M.'s 14th Regiment N. I.
BELGAUM.—In medical charge of Surgeon-Major D. E. HUGHES, M.D.
Average Strength . . .
706
Do. present . . . 610
A d m i s s i o n s . . .
639
Daily Sick . . .
18.5
Deaths in Hospital . . .
3
Do. out of Hospital . . .
4
Invalided . . .
36
Sick Leave . . .
14
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent. to Average Strength
present of
Admissions. Daily Sick.
Deaths in
Hospital.
1876 . . .
Belgaum . . .
82.6
3.5
3.1
1877 . . .
Do. . . .
73.4
3.5
0.6
1878 . . .
Do. . . .
114.1
4.4
2.5
Average . . .
90.0
3.8
2.1
1879 . . .
Belgaum . . .
104.7
3 . 3
0.4
1. A detachment 81 strong, which had been stationed at Kaladgi, rejoined head
-
quarters on the 7th January 1879. Since then the entire
Regiment was stationed at Belgaum till it left on the 22nd
December for Vingorla, en route to Aden.
2. No alterations have been made in the lines at Belgaum. They were always kept
scrupulously clean and in good order. The paddy fields i n
close proximity to the quarters of the left half battalion appear
to have exercised a pernicious influence on the health of the men, as there were, up to the
22nd December, 245 admissions for malarial fever from the left wing and only 129 from the
right. The cases from the former were also less tractable than those from the latter.
3 . T h e c o n s e r v a n c y a r r a n g e m e n t s h a v e b e e n f u l l y d e s c r i b e d i n p r e v i o u s r e p o r t s . N o
improvement has been made in the disposal of the ablution
water.
4. The water-supply was good and plentiful. The new wells at the Nagihiri, the
sinking of which was mentioned in last year's report, have not
yet been provided with wooden covers to prevent the leaves
from the adjacent trees falling into and contaminating the water.
5. Food was plentiful and comparatively cheap, but not
so cheap as it used to be in Belgaum before the famine years.
No alteration has been made in the clothing of men, which consists of the tight tunic
and trousers of European fashion. Previous to the march from Belgaum, the men were
ordered to provide themselves with two pairs of socks each, but as the sepoys, anxious to
get as much for their money as possible, chose them two or three sizes too large, they were
not of much use in preventing "shoe-bites." The German foot bandage would, I think,
have been less expensive and more useful
6. The ordinary parade, guard, and escort duties have not been very severe, and have
had no prejudicial effect on the health of the men. The
average number of consecutive nights in bed for the year was
5.1.
The men of this Regiment are fond of athletic sports of all kinds, including cricket,
"putting" the cannon ball, and leap-frog. These exercises have of course improved their
physique.
Location and movements.
Lines and their surroundings.
Conservancy.
Water-supply.
Food and clothing.
Duties, exercise, amusements,
&c.
Hospital, its surroundings and
defects.
7. The hospital and its surroundings have been de
-scribed and the defects of the buildings pointed out in pre
-vious reports.
8. The general health and physique of the Regiment are good. There are of course
some elderly men who, though fit enough for the ordinary
duties of a sepoy in time of peace, would have to be weeded
out, should the Regiment be ordered on service. The Konkani recruits enlisted during the
General health and physique.