4
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
The head-quarters and main body of the regiment has been stationed in Bombay
throughout the year, besides furnishing the usual detachments
in course of annual relief to the Persian Gulf and Indian
Government steam vessels, as per subjoined details :—
Baghdad
10
Bushire
15.8
Bassadore
12
I. G. S.S. " Dalhousie"
8
Ditto " Abyssinia"
8
Ditto " Magdala"
8
Ditto " Kwangtung
7.8
Two new detachments have been furnished to Gwadur and Jask, and Chandwad, as per
following strength :—
Gwadur and Jask
36
Chandwad
20
The detachment of twenty strong at Yeola, which was a new call on the regiment last year,
has not been furnished this year.
2. The same as reported in previous years with the exception of the construction of a
new open drain towards the north-east for the conveyance of
regimental sewage to the Sonapur drain. This is not strictly
an addition to the past sanitary arrangements of the lines.
This drain was in existence before, but it was covered, and
cleaned periodically. It has now been enlarged, kept open, and flushed daily.
Location and movements.
The Lines and their surround-
ings : present condition, hygienic.
and otherwise.
Conservancy.
3. The same as reported in the previous year.
4. From Vehar for drinking purposes, and from wells in and near the lines for washing
and other purposes. The quality of Vehar water has been excel-
lent, but the supply has not been so constant as in previous
years. Owing to the short supply of water through the hospital stand-pipe during the day,
when water is much needed, the patients and other men of the hospital have been greatly
inconvenienced during the year.
5. The same as reported before. The Deccan famine had the effect of considerably
raising the price of the grains which form the staple food of
the sepoys throughout the year; this high rate of prices is
still maintained in the local market, and the sepoy's food is not yet procurable at its usual
price.
6. Not heavy. The men had on an average 5¼ nights in bed. During the year
under report two parties in charge of transport convicts to
the Andamans proceeded from Bombay as far as Allahabad.
There are no gymnasia. The men occasionally indulge themselves in cricketing. A
few young sepoys of this corps compete for the prizes at the annual running, jumping,
climbing, and sack-races on the Esplanade.
At the last races some prizes were gained by sepoys from this regiment. The opening
of a gymnasium in connection with the regiment would materially aid a recruit in the
development of his body, and would be much resorted to by the younger sepoys.
7. The hospital accommodation has been sufficient, and there was no overcrowding.
The hygienic condition of the hospital and its surroundings has
been the same as reported before, but owing to its proximity
to the European officers' quarters and the regimental lines
no accommodation is supplied for the reception of patients
suffering from contagious diseases. Such cases have generally to be transferred to the J.
Hospital for treatment.
8. The general health of the men has, on the whole, been good throughout the year.
The regiment is recruited from two classes of men, viz. Moha-
medans from the north, and Hindoos from the Konkan. The
Mohamedan recruits are generally more healthy and strong in physique, for they live singly,
unencumbered by the burden of maintaining their wives, and can therefore afford to take a
more nutritious diet than the Purwarees, who have to maintain a large family consisting of
several souls. The physique of the Purwarees has, however, on the whole been fair during
the past year.
Water supply.
Food and clothing.
Duties, exercise, and amuse-
ments : their effects on health.
Hospital and its immediate sur-
roundings : present condition, hy-
gienic and otherwise.
General health and physique.
Details of treated.
9. Nothing particular to call for remark.