POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
4. The water supply is obtained in sufficient quantity from three wells—one situated to
the rear of the lines, for the Purwarees; another situated to the
south-east, for the use of Hindoos and Musalmans; the third
well is used principally by the European officers of the regiment and by the hospital.
5 . F o o d h a s b e e n e x c e e d i n g l y d e a r d u r i n g t h e p a s t y e a r , t h o u g h t h e m a r k e t s w e r e w e l l
supplied. The highest amount of grain compensation allowed
to the sepoys was in the mouth of August, when it reached
Rs. 9-3-1, and the lowest in December, when it was Rs. 3-5-6. Vegetables were abundant
and cheap during the year.
6. The regiment possesses a very good workshop, and, when not engaged on military
duty, some of the men are occupied at carpentry, bootmaking,
tailoring, and smiths' work. They were successful in obtaining
several prizes this year at the exhibition held in Poona. The
gymnasium has been much resorted to, especially by the recruits, who are taught gymnastics
by a qualified sepoy who has obtained a certificate at Poona.
7. The hospital has been fully described in the annual report for 1876. No alteration
has since been made, with the exception that a dead-house has
been built. A well is also being sunk about fifty yards to the
south of the hospital. It will be a very great advantage, as up
to the present the bheesties have had to bring water from the
well situated near the officers' quarters, which is a long distance from the hospital. The
present state of the hospital is very satisfactory. It is kept scrupulously clean. It is well
ventilated, and its conservancy arrangements are punctually carried out. I consider the
mud floor of the hospital might be replaced with advantage by either a wooden or a stone one,
as any dressings, excreta, &c., which may happen to fall on it are absorbed, and may possibly
form a source of infection.
8. The general health of the troops has been good during the past year. The prevail-
ing diseases have been ague and syphilis. The physique of
the men is good. The appearance of the recruits who joined
lately has been beyond the average.
9. There has been a large increase in the number of admissions as compared with the
year previous. I attribute it to the famine that has so extensively
prevailed here, and the consequent dearness of provisions. The
climate has not been favourable. An unusual quantity of rain
fell in the months of September and October. In November and December the weather was
exceedingly cold, with a dry east wind, and during those months the number of admissions
for intermittent fever was very much increased.
10. There were altogether 521 admissions. There were 170 admissions from ague,
which were treated, the graver cases with quinine, and the
lighter with cinchonidine. I have found a mixture of both
medicines in equal proportion to answer well for ordinary cases. Four cases of small-pox
were admitted, also one of remittent fever, and three of malignant cholera. There were
seventeen cases of chronic rheumatism, and thirty-two of primary syphilis; none of the other
diseases were of any particular importance.
47
Water supply.
Food.
Duties, exercise, and amuse
-ments, and their effects on health.
Hospital and its immediate sur
-roundings: present condition, hy
-gienic and otherwise.
General health and physique.
Influence of climate or local
circumstances on health.
Details of treated.
Mortality and its causes.
11. There were five deaths during the year—two from
cholera, and one each from red softening of the brain, hepatitis,
and apoplexy.
12. There were seven cases of cholera in the cantonment in the early part of the year,
out of which one recovered. There were two sepoys attacked;
the remainder of the cases occurred amongst the relations of
the sepoys, and the camp followers. Six cases of modified small-pox occurred; two of those
admitted were children, the other four sepoys.
13. Vaccination has been very carefully carried out. There were 76 operations,
of which only one was successful. There were 19 re-vaccina
-tions, of which 8 were unsuccessful. These latter operations
were performed solely on recruits.
Epidemics.
Vaccination and re-vaccina
-tion.
14. There were 22 men sent before the Invaliding Committee at Belgaum, of whom ten
only were passed. The causes of their being invalided were
—two from chronic bronchitis, one from debility and hemicrania,
and seven owing to their being old and worn out
.
Invaliding and its causes.