122
SKETCH OF THE MEDICA HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
chiefly of unbaked bricks, and sand is used instead of chunam for mortar ; and the Executive
Engineer believes that they will tumble down in the next rains : the wall of one new hut ward,
for special disease, has already succumbed to its bad materials and has fallen down. The
latrine accommodation of the hospital is insufficient for the increased number of beds ; but a
letter has been sent to the Brigadier about it, and it will doubtless be remedied. Owing to the
great weakness of the regiment all Brigade parades have been stopped, and both European and
natives have been relieved of this extra duty. The men on the whole have had five nights in bed.
Total number of admissions into hospital 2,086 for the year.
H. M.'S .10TH REGIMENT N.I.
MHOW.—In Medical Charge of Surgeon-Major T. MURRAY ; Strength 494.
The head-quarters 10th Regiment N.L.I., marched from Maligaum on the 19th
February and arrived at Mhow on the 2nd March, and on the 12th September detached 200
men for duty to Indore, and afterwards two companies temporarily to Asirgarh, withdraw-
ing one company from the Indore party.
The meteorological features of the past year have been remarkable. The monsoon in the
previous year had failed over a large extent of country in the western districts, and was
followed in the cold season, for a short time, by unusual coldness at some places ; as at Maligaum,
for example, where the thermometer ranged from 42° to 44°, on six different occasions in the
night. The hot season was marked by unusual highness of temperature, which was considered
to exceed by 6° the average temperature of this station ; and previous to the setting in of the
monsoon, on the 13th June, the heat ranged from 98° to 102° in the shade, and for upwards of
a week the weather was very trying. The rains, however, proved favourable, and 37.47 inches
were registered, which exceeds the average fall of the previous twelve years. The average in
that time has been only 33.64, and the rainfall has been marked by considerable fluctuation
in the amount gauged each year, varying from 25.83 to 52.44, as may be seen from subjoined
table. There was a little difference in the amount of rain registered at the different hospitals,
but that of the staff hospital has been accepted as the best approximation of rainfall in canton-
ment from its high and central position. The annual mean temperature was 73° minimum,
84° maximum, 57° extreme minimum, and 102° extreme maximum.
Rainfall from 1860 to 1871.
Rainfall in 1872.
1860 . . .
25.83
January . . .
. . .
1861 . . .
36.57
February . . .
0.10
1862 . . .
36.88
March . . .
0.03
1863 . . .
26.38
April . . .
0.62
1864 . . .
25.84
May . . .
. . .
1865 . . .
29.13
June . . .
8.65
1866 . . .
33.27
July
.
.
.
14.71
1867 . . .
39.99
A u g u s t . . .
9.40
1868 . . .
29.51
September . . .
3.06
1869 . . .
37.55
October . . .
. . .
1870 . . .
52.44
November . . .
. . .
1871 . . .
30.60
December . . .
0.90
Total . . .
37.47
The regimental lines are built of sun-dried mud bricks, with floor not raised above the
surrounding level, single-tiled roofs, and are ventilated through the door of each hut. The
huts afford sufficient accommodation for single men, but are apt to be overcrowded when men
have visitors from their native villages residing with them. The natural drainage is very
good, but further measures are required to improve it, to prevent water lodging, and to divert
the refuse water or sullage of the lines, after heavy rain, from the wells. The attention of
the authorities has been drawn to the subject, and it is expected that a more systematic plan
of drainage will be initiated, to remedy the present defects before next monsoon.
The hospital for the accommodation of sick of the two native infantry regiments, is an
old bombproof building, with vaulted roof and several glazed skylights introduced above for
the purpose of ventilation. It consists of two main wards—80 x 18 = 2,880, and two end
rooms-18 × 8 = 576 or 3,456 ; also two enclosed verandahs, and four corner rooms—8 × 8
which are used as dispensaries and storerooms. The height of walls to springing of arch is 7½
feet in the two main wards, and 8 feet in end rooms. The cubic space in the main ward is
80 × 18 × 7½ = 10,800 feet. The two wards can accommodate 32 patients, giving 90 super
-