NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
H. M. 'S 4TH REGIMENT N.I.
BARODA.—In Medical Charge of Surgeon C. G. H. ROSS ; Strength 644.
H M.'s 4th Rifles have been stationed at Baroda during the past year. On the 16th
and 17th November they proceeded by rail to Poona, in anticipation of the visit of His Excel
lency the Viceroy and Governor General of India, with the view of taking part in the camp of
exercise formed there on that occasion. As expected, the health of the regiment, which had
been much impaired by excessive sickness—especially ague and dengue—benefited in a marked
degree by change to the Deccan. After an absence of three weeks the battalion returned to
its old quarters in Guzerat, in better physical case and form than have been seen since its
occupation of Baroda as a station more than two years ago. It is highly desirable that our
sepoys should in foreign territory at least be better housed than they are, for the climate of this
place is a trying one and exerts, as is well known, a deteriorating influence on native as well as
European troops. Year by year as these reports are rendered, so certainly are the most
miserable quarters assigned to sepoys forming part of the garrison here, discussed in strong
and condemnatory terms. As written in last report the regimental lines for years have been
notoriously bad. They are deficient in the most obvious sanitary requirements of the day. Old
and condemned—the new lines should be built on plinths of brick work notless than three feet
high, with spacious verandahs all round. The quarter guard and school house are in good
order, but the solitary cells are unsuitable for prisoners in the hot weather. The new latrines,
which were alluded to in last year's report, have been closed and the Trench system intro-
duced but with indifferent result, as the sepoys do not care to work it effectively. The system
is indeed admirable, and one that I recommended seven years ago when in medical charge of
the 2nd Grenadiers at Surat. The coincidence of the systems is striking enough to warrant
notice here.
Quoting my sanitary report, dated 1st January 1866, the following occurs :—
" The subject of latrines has engaged my attention : I have, however, come to the conclu-
sion, that it will be better to substitute for the buildings in question a trenched retreat in a
field near the lines. A trench per company should be dug, and each individual, repairing
thither,. should be required, after responding to the call of nature, to cover his deposit with a
handful of earth more or less. Offensive odours will, by the process suggested, be prevented and
the purity of the air uncontaminated. In course of time the trenches will fill up and neces-
sitate the selection of another retreat. Present arrangements are highly objectionable. The
long distance men and women have to travel on natural crrands, do now and must, more espe-
cially in the rainy season, render all sanitary measures in this direction abortive."
But any system, however good, must fail, unless the sepoys themselves are interested in
working it in all its details. With proper surveillance all difficulties would disappear, and I do
not see why it should be withheld, when a sanitary question of great moment is involved.
Supervision of some kind is requisite, for I know from personal inspection that the men do not
all take advantage of the trenches ready dug for use, but actually commit nuisances within the
canvas screens all over the ground. In the hospital latrine the Dry-earth system was adopted
when the Rifles came to Baroda, and works well ; but, without constant supervision, the apathy
of the sepoys and the carelessness of the sweepers would speedily induce them to disregard
all its advantages.
Since last report there is nothing new to add touching the general sanitary conditions of
the lines : these, as already stated, are notoriously bad. The ventilation and surface drainage
are defective. The amount of sickness among the women and children was exceedingly great
and the mortality large. When dengue was epidemic they suffered nearly as much as the men.
During May, June, and July, when the disease prevailed, 264 women out of 333 were
attacked or 79.
2 per cent.. and 275 children out of 354 or 77 .6 per cent. There were no deaths
from this cause during the year. 5 women and 27 children died from various diseases, such as
fever, bronchitis, and scurvy.
The hospital is good of its kind and in fair order. The dispensary is badly lighted and
incommodious. The outhouses are indifferent : quarters for medical pupils and a deadhouse
a r e
d e s i d e r a t a .
The year, in respect of temperature, rainfall and meteorological phenomena, is to be
considered an exceptional one ; and unfavourable from climatic causes on the health of the troops
and civil population.
In March, April, May, and June, the heat was singularly trying and exhausting, although
the mercury not unfrequently rose above 100 degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer, yet the average
maximum of these months did not reach that of those of the previous year. Exalted tempe-
rature, therefore, in 1872 does not so satisfactorily account for excessive sickness and deteriora-
tion of the general health, as the existence of some subtle change in the constitution of the