151
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
51.
Half measures are useless ; the work must be done by one independent medical offi-
cer with magisterial powers, where large cities and cantonments exist in vicinity ; neverthe-
less, what has been has been done well, and the disease has, to a considerable amount,
decreased amongst all arms of the service.
52.
I would suggest a committee on the Mhow Lock Hospital, and if approved of this
should form the design for all buildings in the future. It is on the serraie plan.
53.
I would suggest for consideration a general or civil hospital for Mhow, unless the
General or civil hospi- Government accept the liberal offer made by Mr. Pestonjee Dorabjee,
tal for Mhow.
the philantrophic founder of the Dorabjee Dispensary at that station.
54.
Ahmedabad.— Is compactly laid out, fairly wooded, and clean. Water-supply from
Cantonments.
wells and reported good. A voluminous account is given by
Dr. Boustead, both of this and the ancient city, which is on too large a
scale to be embodied in a report of this nature. A very correct map also accompanies
Dr. Boustead's annual report on H. M.'s 9th Regiment N. I., which I consider both interesting
and satisfactory, entering as it does on all matters of note.
55.
Deesa. —Large, sandy and straggling, fairly wooded, intersected by numerous
nullahs, the resort of waifs and strays, otherwise clean. It is, however, a heart-rending can-
tonment by reason of deficiency in roads and water-supply for these.
56.
A very interesting and carefully prepared precis from Assistant Surgeon Barry, M.D.,
H. M.'s 2nd Light Cavalry, will be found in this officer's annual report.
57.
Nasirabad.—A fine, open camp, fairly wooded ; a large amount of young trees have,
of late, been planted along the roads which, in a few years, will prove a great desideratum. It
is very clean and has several gardens. Water, chiefly for drinking purposes, brought in
from a distance of about three miles and reported good. Well-water brackish.
58.
The report called for relative to the new tank for receiving rain-water for the Euro-
pean troops. at this station cannot be given. I examined the excavation twice in company
with the Brigadier-General and Cantonment Magistrate ; but, this being chaos at the time,
could obtain no information as to its future value when completed, and am powerless to ad-
vance any of my own.
59.
This station has been recorded as being very healthy during the year. The reports
from the medical officers in charge of 3rd Light Cavalry, 23rd Regiment N. I., and Staff are
very meagre.
60.
Neemuch.— A very pretty, well wooded, compact station, and like the others clean.
Young trees are here also, as at Nasirabad, being largely planted about the neighbourhood
of the new European barracks, which latter, at present, look cheerless on their barren site.
61.
The water-supply is good, and from wells, save in the hot months, when the large
water receiving nullah, which aids in supplying these, dries up.
62.
At the south-west, and in rear of the European barracks, upwards of a quarter of
a mile distant, I observed the remains of a considerable lake, but by reason of a portion of the
stone bund having been carried away by the floods, the water-supply from this source is rapidly
carried off ; yet, if this were repaired, am of opinion the wells, many of them, would be largely
fed during the hot season or greater portion of it, without prejudice or detriment to the
sanitary state of the cantonment.
63.
Tree plantations, not overcrowding nor too low, are essential in all cantonments, and
to support life to these, water is necessary.
64.
On some the sight of water near European barracks acts as on the rabid animal.
65.
There is nothing of either import or interest in the annual reports from this station.
66.
The sepoys' huts are reported too small, and incapable of admitting a charpoy ;
consequently the men have to lie on the ground, which is reported very low.
67.
Mehidpoor.—A black soil cantonment. The river Sepree affords the chief water-
supply, forming western, whilst on its eastern and northern boundaries runs a deep nullah.
68.
Both these feed the wells, and are not objectionable in a sanitary point I conceive
during the hot season ; but from the nature of the soil during the rains everywhere is swamp
—vegetation prolific ; yet such is disposed of by constant cutting down and grazing, and is not
a source of what is termed malaria—cold and damp it certainly is.
69.
The mens' huts are partly in ruins, and said to be very damp in the rains. They
are built on low ground and should be removed.
70.
There is nothing of interest in the reports from this cantonment, which is garrisoned
by 362 men of the 25th Regiment N.L.I.
71.
Passing from Mehidpoor to Augur I saw ice of half inch in thickness.
72.
Augur.—A pretty undulating station, red soil, trees abundant, water from wells good
all the year.