POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
65
In camp the outbreak was not confined to any particular line of houses or locality, but
appeared in several parts of the lines. None of the relations or families of those admitted into
hospital were afterwards attacked.
Immediately on the appearance of the disease all communication between the lines and
village was prevented, and, I believe, it is in a great measure due to the strictness with which
Major LaTouche, the Acting Commandant, enforced this order, that so few cases occurred in the
lines.
From the 1st to the 18th May, 48 cases of diarrhœa, chiefly among the children and
followers, were treated either at their own houses, or in houses set apart for the purpose of an
observation ward. Some of these cases were extremely persistent, 'the purging continued for
days. Of the 48 cases, a syce and a child died, and one case afterwards turned into cholera.
Stringent orders were issued that any person affected with looseness of the bowels should
at once proceed to the hospital for treatment, and I am glad to say this order was strictly
obeyed.
The treatment adopted for cholera consisted in the administration of astringents and car
–minatives, combined with chlorodyne, until collapse set in, after which acid halleri in com
– b i n a t i o n w i t h æ t h e r w a s g i v e n . U r g e n t t h i r s t w a s r e l i e v e d b y a n a b u n d a n c e o f c o l d w a t e r ,
or soda–water. Secretion of urine was promoted by turpentine stupes, dry-cupping, and by
the use of chlorate of potash, liquor ammoniæ, acetatis and spirit æther nitrosi; at the same time
diluents were given ad libitum . In no case did I give calomel in any stage of the disease.
In the village of Seroor, with a population of 4,140, there occurred 112 cases, of these 60
died and 52 recovered. The first case appeared on the 2nd and the last on the 24th May.
The first death occurred on the 3rd May and the last on the 23rd of the same month.
It would be superfluous for me to give a topographical sketch of the station, as this was
fully detailed by Dr. Simpson in his report for 1870.
The regimental lines are very satisfactory and well adapted for the accommodation of a
cavalry regiment. The houses, which may be said to be built on rock, for there is only a thin
coating of moorum above, are in excellent repair and afford ample accommodation for the
men and their families. The surface drains and the natural slope of the ground, do not
admit of the rainfall becoming stagnant in any part of the lines. The rock is all but imper
–vious to water, and little or no percolation through the subsoil can occur, thus preventing the
deleterious emanations, which would be otherwise unavoidable, from a subsoil saturated with
organic impurities from the horses' urine and litter.
The conservancy is carried out by sweepers entertained by the regiment. Each house
has its own private latrine in a corner of the back courtyard, and from this the excreta is
removed every morning to a distance of at least half a mile from camp, and it is then used for
agricultural purposes. The system is in my opinion a good one, and only wants a little im
– p r o v e m e n t t o r e n d e r i t c o m p l e t e . I t i s v e r y s e l d o m t h a t a n y o f f e n s i v e o d o u r i s p e r c e p t i b l e , a s
great attention is paid to having the latrines thoroughly cleaned out. There is no doubt but
that all the solid matter is removed—but what becomes of the liquid discharged? This is the
great drawback to the present system, as the liquid excreta must percolate through the upper
stratum of the soil and form as it were a cess-pool. I have recommended that all these latrines
be built on a standard plan, and that each of them be furnished with a pan or pans, so placed
as to intercept both liquid and solid discharges from touching the ground. The contents
could then be emptied into a large receptacle or filth cart and removed. The syces have a
public latrine for which a sweeper is entertained.
Many of the recommendations previously made have been carried out, the most important
being the erection of new lines for the syces, which are now almost completed. The site
selected is a convenient one, situated to the north of the camp (or rather to the north of the
lines of the men). The houses are substantially built and tiled, and will afford accommodation
for 52 families, as several of the syces are unmarried—two of them will have to occupy one
house. Each compartment contains 1,000 cubic feet of space.
Another improvement is essentially necessary, but this is not the province of the regiment.
I allude to the want of accommodation near the hospital for 2nd class servants. I am sorry
to have to bring this matter again to notice, as my predecessor did so year after year during the
time he was in charge. The inconvenience experienced from this cause during the late epide–-
mic of cholera, is, I trust, a sufficient excuse. On the 4th June last I addressed the Com-
–manding Officer on the subject, as also upon the urgent need of increased hospital accommoda–-
tion, and some improvements to the present building. The letter was, I believe, submitted with
a recommendation for the favourable consideration of the superior authorities; but I regret to
say that the hospital still remains as it was, without a single subsidiary builing, except the
latrine and a small cookhouse. All the 2nd class servants, including even the sweeper, have
to live at a considerable distance. The hospital assistants are provided with houses in the
lines, for which they have to pay 8 annas per mensem, as these houses are the property of the
men.
17 S