PRESIDENCY DIVISION, ADEN, AND BOMBAY MARINE.
9
Inspection by Deputy Surgeon-General MOORE.
I inspected the hospital and lines of H.M.'s 17th Regiment N.I. at Surat on the 14th
of November, going carefully through the lines in company with the Commanding Officer
and the Surgeon. There are twenty rows of double lines, not favourably situated with re-
ference-to the prevailing breezes. The lines are, fortunately, a considerable distance apart,
and there are numerous trees affording shade, but, owing to position, while one face of the
lines, to the S.W., obtains perflation, the other sides, looking the opposite direction, are
close and unventilated. The men therefore lie outside, to which practice may be attributed
a considerable proportion of the fever and bronchitis they suffer from. In front of all the
houses is a mud wall, which, while securing privacy, impedes ventilation, and renders the
interiors very dark. The floors are scarcely raised from the level of the ground, although
there is an attempt at plinth outside. This is made of mud, and instead of rendering the
interior dry must conduce to an opposite result. The washing-water used inside, and prob-
ably urine, is conducted by a " kutcha" drain from each house into the central street, or to
an adjacent tree. But it is frequently absorbed by the earth before reaching its destination,
and, percolating through the ground, must also tend to render the interiors damp. The
drainage of the central streets is merely a slope of the ground; and the drainage, such as it
is, passes to a long drain running at right angles the whole length of the lines. From the
centre, where the ground is a little lower, a barrel drain leads to the Taptee. But when rain
floods the river the water rises in this drain, rendering the central part of the lines very wet,
and sometimes flooded. To the absence of proper ventilation; to the position of the lines
facing away from the prevailing breeze, thus inducing the men to sleep outside ; to the bad
drainage from the houses, and to the vicinity of the Taptee and the floods therefrom, may
therefore be attributed much of the febrile malady from which the men suffer. The lines
are in good order and repair ; the whole locality was very clean, and no overcrowding in the
huts,—saving clauses, where so much is radically bad. During the year as many as 672
cases of ague, 16 of remittent fever, and 409 of febricula were admitted. These admissions
occurred principally during the autumn, and were made the subject of several references from
my office. Doubtless many of the cases returned as "febricula" were in reality of a malarious
character. It appears that although the rainfall of the last season was small, there was
a heavy early fall, followed by a long period of dry weather, when the men began to suffer
as above indicated. There were only two cases of cholera in the regiment during the year ;
. of the other diseases treated none require special notice.
The hospital was formerly an upper-storied bungalow, having chunam floors below, and
wood flooring above. The wards are spacious and well ventilated, and the back verandah,
which is wide, may be used as an additional ward. Laterally there are office and store
rooms, the staircase, and an ophthalmic ward. The whole is raised on a good plinth. The
hospital, surrounding buildings, and compound were clean and in good order, the instruments
and medicines well kept, and the establishment reported upon favourably.
Vaccination has been carried on successfully and thoroughly.
H. M.'s 6th Regiment N.I.
ADEN.—In medical charge of Surgeon-Maior A. M. ROGERS.
Average Strength
656.5
Died in Hospital
7
Do. Present
644.4
Do out of do.
4
Admissions
346
Invalided.
62
Daily Sick
14.6
Sick Leave
6
Years.
Stations.
Rate per cent. to Average Strength
Present of
Admissions. Daily Sick.
Deaths
i n H o s p i t a l .
1874
Belgaum
37.4
1.1
0.4
1875
Do.
58.3
1.8
0.6
1876
Aden
62.6
2.1
0.6
Average
52.8
1.7
0.5
1877
Aden
.
53.7
2.3
1.1
3m