14
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
2. The lines occupied by the Company are situated close to the Main Pass, in the north-
western extremity of the Crater Position. They are temporary
constructions of mud and laths, with roofs covered with jowley,
a species of reed, and sides of bamboo matting. They consist of four parallel rows, separated
by three streets of unequal width. The first street is 29 feet wide, while the other two are
only about 9 each. The huts are built without plinths, and have no openings for ventila
- t i o n . N e i t h e r o f t h e s e d e f e c t s a r e , h o w e v e r , o f m u c h c o n s e q u e n c e , a s t h e a i r c i r c u l a t e s f r e e l y
through the doors, walls, and roofs, and owing to the natural dryness of the surface, no
plinth is required. The following measurements of the huts are about correct—the height
to ridge is 10 feet 6 inches, of external wall 5 feet 10 inches, and of door-way 4 feet 8 inches.
The superficial area to each sepoy is from 95 to 100 square feet, and the cubic space about
700 cubic feet. There was no overcrowding. The married men's huts have of course bathing
places in the verandahs, which drain out on the free surface of the street.
3. There are two latrines situated about fifty yards from the north-west corner of the
lines, one for the men and one for the women. The buildings
are of recent construction, composed of solid masonry, and fitted
with the regulation dammered iron privy pans, and are very clean and in a satisfactory con
-dition. There are no defects, except that they are roofless; but whether this want may be
considered one or not, is a matter of opinion. The pans, which are fitted into the stone seats
in the usual way, are removed at the rear, and emptied into covered receptacles twice a day
by the sweepers. There are two iron receptacles, placed as urinals for men, between the
latrines. The whole excreta is removed at night in a Government filth cart to Holkat's Bay,
outside the barriers, where it is buried. No nuisance or injury to health has been attributed
to the system.
4. The water-supply consisted of two gallons of sweet or condensed and three of brack
-ish water for each man. The sweet water is defective as
regards quantity, a larger amount being required, in the hot
months at least.
5. The men receive a free ration from Government, which consists of dhall 4 oz., wheaten
flour 1 lb., rice 12 oz., ghee 2 oz., salt
¾oz., currystuff ½ oz.
, and condensed water 2 gallons. This ration is defective in anti-
scorbutic properties, as the vegetable portion is insufficient in quantity, and as a rule inferior
in quality, and the consequence is a certain amount of scurvy always existing amongst the
men. The total absence of fresh meat is also a defect.
Lines and their surroundings.
Conservancy.
Water-supply.
Food and clothing.
Duties and amusements.
6. The men are exercised as working parties on the
defences, and have no amusements that I am aware of.
7. There is no hospital accommodation for the company, but the sick are treated with
those of the regiment in the Native Infantry Hospital already
described.
8. The general health of the company, although a certain amount of scurvy did prevail
amongst the men, was good. The physique of the men is very
good.
Hospital accommodation.
General health and physique.
Influence of climate.
9. Under this heading I beg to refer to my report on the
25th Regiment.
10. There were altogether 48 admissions into hospital, and of these, 12 were for ague, 5
for colic, 2 diarrhœa, 2 dysentery, 1 enteritis, 4 for muscular and
1 for chronic rheumatism, 1 neuralgia, 1 gonorrhœa, 1 congested
stricture, 1 orchitis, 2 herpes preputialis, 2 bronchitis, 1 syphilis secondary, 1 splenitis, 1
scurvy, 1 simple continued fever,] scalp wound, 2 conjunctivitis, 1 abscess, 2 contusion, 1
debility, 2 boils. One man, who suffered from ague and debility, was granted sick leave.
Details of treated.
Mortality.
Epidemics.
Vaccination, re-vaccination.
Invaliding and its causes.
11. None.
12. A slight outbreak of small-pox occurred, which was
supposed to have been introduced by pilgrims.
13. Vaccination was carefully carried out, but there was
no re-vaccination.
14. There were six men invalided at the Annual Invalid
-ing Board and pensioned. Five of these were declared unfit.
Requirements and recommendations
Special observations.
15. None.
16. None.