152
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
73.
There are two tanks in vicinity with cantonment : one reported noisome in the hot
season, nevertheless the station is classed as very healthy, and the tank remains unmolested,
so much for " malaria."
74.
A wing only of a native regiment is located here from the Bombay service, and its
sick are treated in tents pending the completion of a new hospital, the site of which is very
good, being on the most rising ground in cantonment, yet a little too far from the lines I
think.
75.
Nothing for comment from the report of the medical officer.
76.
Indore.—A small unique cantonment, with a garrison of about 260 sepoys, H. M.'s
10th Regiment N. I., relieved occasionally.
77.
The soil is cotton chiefly, and, as at Mehidpoor, deeply fissured in the hot season,
and swampy in the rains.
78.
At the north-west boundary is a river which flows all the year round, useful and
ornamental.
79.
The water-supply is from wells, pronounced good all the year round.
80.
The sick are treated in a small ward lent by the medical officer in charge of civil
hospital, and under same roof, very small and inconvenient ; however, a hospital is in progress
towards completion.
81.
The reports as to the sanitary condition of the station are favourable, but I find no-
thing novel after perusal of the annual report of the Medical officer, worthy of remark.
82.
Mhow.—This station is the strongest garrisoned cantonment I have seen within my
two divisions, and much as I left it nine years ago, save that the cavalry barracks and European
infantry hospital, then advancing towards completion, are now in occupation ; and the
former, though facing easterly, are on a more elevated position than the old buildings, where,
during the rains, a black swampy soil existed, with but small attempt at drainage : yet one to
effect this latter has been lately made, but the site is still defective, and here, in the vicinity,
on a slight elevation, are the huts for two native regiments, also the hospital, a bomb-proof
building, with two wards, one for sick of each regiment, and capable of containing but 14 beds,
unequal to the requirements of a strength of upwards of 600 fighting men. Officers' quarters
are also here.
83.
I mind me of a time that is gone, then in charge of royal artillery, when I wrote
very unmistakeably on the unfavourable sanitary condition of this part of the cantonment,
and have no disposition, after a lapse of nine years, to change my views. It should be deserted
as a site at once.
84.
The reports from this station are admirably condensed, and will be perused with
interest.
85.
Baroda.—This station for many years bore an evil repute as being the focus where
fevers held supreme sway, and the annual returns showed its character was not maligned
during the extremely hot season, and the Medical Officer 4th Rifles N. I., Dr. Ross, still
reports unfavourably of the autumnal months.
86.
Water-supply good, and from wells.
87.
The lines of the men are very ricketty I confess, and should be re-built.
88.
This is the most charmingly wooded station I have visited, and on entering, at first
glance reminds one of the glorious domains surrounding ancestral halls in old England, alas !
there are none such dwellings here, for on further inspection the bungalows appropriated for
officers, with but few expections, are very inferior.
89.
Several trees, where overcrowded and obstructing the influx of pure air, have been
removed, and orders have been issued for further cutting down of others in compounds and
lopping off the low hanging branches to a height of 16 feet for a similar object ; and this, doubt
less, will prove beneficial, since I cannot imagine, beyond excessive radiation of cold from such
redundant arborescence, any other cause for fevers in this beautiful cantonment.
90.
The report from the medical officer, Dr. Ross, is very interesting, especially with
reference to dengue.
Stations I have not visited.
91.
Bhooj.—H. M.'s 20th Regiment N.I., camp clean, water good, trees scanty, yet a
number of young ones have lately been planted and improvements in roads are recorded.
The lines, as in all reports, faulty ; the first two-thirds of the year the regiment healthy, last
third suffered from fever of a most debilitating character, perhaps simulating dengue, as the
latter disease was subsequently diagnosed in 11 cases only.