NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY. 131
During the year there has been prevalent among the men of the 22nd no sickness caus
-
ing much inefficiency, excepting malarious fever, which yielded 841 out of 1,163 admissions to
hospital. These figures are probably not strictly correct ; as there is no doubt that when a
man presents himself with an ailment, not thoroughly developed or readily diagnosed, the
difficulty is met by entering the case under the head of Fever : yet the fact stands good, that
malarious fever has been and is the bane of the station.
In attempting to form some notion of the possible cause of so great a prevalence of fever
from year to year among the men occupying the native infantry lines at Neemuch, I have
framed the following tables:—
YEARS.
J a u n a r y .
F e b r u a r y .
M a r c h .
Ap r i l .
M a y .
J u n e .
J u l y .
A u g u s t .
S e p t e m b e r .
O c t o b e r .
N o v e m b e r .
D e c e m b e r .
For 1871.
Number of fever cases. 24
13
14
7 14
14
23
42
75
162
248
119
Rainfall . . . . . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
0.47 6.59 4.83 5.21 2.47
. . .
1.72 . . .
Medium temperature . . . . . .
66
72
82 84
77
71
72
73
80
72
64
For 1872.
Number of fever cases. 39
13
29
40 22
28
31
35
71
208
197
128
Rainfall . . . . . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
5.82 6.91 17.25 5.17
1.22
. . .
. . .
Average temperature . . . 61
67
75
86 92
82
78
73
74
75
67
65
The prevailing wind in October, November, and December is from the N.E.
There is nothing much elucidated from this ; but it may be observed, that in 1871 the
sickness from fever attained its maximum in November, and in 1872 in October ; and that in
these months, in the respective years, the rainfall and medium temperature closely corresponded.
In relation to a lesser number of cases of fever and no rainfall, the same remark holds
good inversely as regards months, and this, in a measure, tells against the theory of malaria
being principally generated during the drying of moistened ground. Fever prevailed
in a greater degree in the months when rain fell, than in those when evaporation from the
previously saturated ground and the margins of ponds was actively and uninterruptedly going on.
I find that several medical officers have attributed the prevalence of sickness among the
occupants of the native infantry lines at Neemuch, to the superficial area in the huts being so
small as not to admit of charpoys being used in them, the men being thus necessitated to lie
on the earthen floor ; and to deficiency in ventilation.
In the former postulate I concur, and remark that the floors of most of the huts are below
the level of the ground outside ; but I cannot think there is any great deficiency in ventilation
(at any rate in those occupied by single men). The huts are covered with a single layer of
tiles (very permeable to air) ; which tiles are loosely laid and not cemented together.
The comparative immunity from sickness of the native cavalry soldiers at Neemuch is
woll known, and may, very probably, in some measure be ascribable to the huts in their
lines being larger than those in the infantry lines, and to mostly all the men being provided
with charpoys. But, in explanation of the matter, I should attach greater weight to the superior
physique of the cavalry soldier, to the less exhausting nature of his duties, and to other advan
-
tages which it is well known he possesses.
In a sanitary aspect the native infantry lines at Neemuch surpass those of the cavalry.
In September, October, November, and December, the months in which malarious fever is
so very rife among the native infantry soldiery at Neemuch, drill and parade exercise is push
-
ed to the utmost in preparation for meeting the review by the Officer Commanding the Divi
-
sion, and the energy of the man is severely taxed ; moreover, at this season he is frequently
exposed to wet, when on duty wears for 24 hours damp boots on naked feet, and has no facili
-
ties for drying his wet clothing when he returns to his huts.
Four cases of cholera occurred in July, and of these three proved fatal ; upon which the
regiment was moved out of lines into camp.
The interior of the huts were cleaned and white-washed, and the whole surroundings
underwent a process of thorough brushing up.