79
NORTHERN AND MHOW DIVISIONS OF THE ARMY.
W i n g o f A . M . ' s 1 5 t h R e g i m e n t A . I .
Augur (Central India).—In Medical charge of Assistant Surgeon L. D. SPENCER,
Strength 263.
Augur, where the wing has been stationed for the past year, is 30 miles from the high
road and 86 miles from Indore; latitude 23° 43'; height above the sea 1,600 feet. The head
quarters are at Mehidpore, 30 miles to the south-west of Augur. The soil is red laterite, and
the hills and ridges which abound here afford admirable sites for building purposes; in the
valleys black soil predominates. The station is remarkably well situated, and there is plenty
of space for a large number of troops.
Lines.— The lines consist of 3 rows of huts running from east to west, each hut being 9
feet × 8 feet; each man has a hut to himself; they are nicely situated and kept very clean,
being whitewashed outside, and inside "leeped" in the ordinary manner. The trees about the
lines do not retard ventilation, and are a great boon to the men.
Latrines.— The latrines attached to the lines are on the trench system, a new trench
being dug every morning; I have never detected any odour from them.
Hospital.—The hospital is a large building well situated on rising ground, and with
good natural drainage, it has a superficial area of 1,512 feet and a cubic capacity of 30,240
feet. There is space for twice the number of men likely to be admitted to it; it is venti
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lated by doors and by a contrivance in the roof. It has been condemned by a committee,
owing to the condition of some of the walls and woodwork; there is a great want of accom
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modation for the hospital establishment; at present they inhabit the verandahs, which is of
course a bad arrangement.
Rainfall.—The rainfall during the year was 36.96 inches, rain falling on 66 days of the
year; this is about the average amount in Central India. The temperature, I am unable to
give, as there is no thermometer belonging to the infantry hospital, and the Regiment to
to which I belong only arrived here on the 30th of November.
Water Supply.—There are seven wells about the lines, and one in the hospital com
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pound; they contain an abundant supply all the year round of pure water.
Strength of Wing and average Sickness.— The average strength of the wing for the year
was 263, and the average daily sickness was 19.6. No case of epidemic disease occurred
throughout the year.
Prevailing Disease.— There has not been even a sporadic case, either of cholera or small
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pox during the year; the disease of the last year before all others was ague. I took over
medical charge of the wing in December; for four months before this they had suffered severely.
My predecessor, Dr. Keegan, used the hypodermic injection of quinine in sundry cases, and
in many with good effect. From what I can learn, I think many of the men have not yet
got over sickness contracted at Aden; many of them show an occasional tendency to scurvy,
which they say was contracted there; then the climate of Mehidpore is notoriously malarious,
and the position of the lines there notoriously bad. It is not wonderful therefore, that the
men were liable to ague, after their arrival here, but I feel certain that the climate of Augur
is not to be blamed for it. The 2nd C. I. Horse which were stationed here during the year,
enjoyed good health—of course there were a certain number of cases of fever after the rains;
but these were few, and from what I can learn, of a different type from those occurring in
the wing. Of the 335 admissions into hospital during the year, 200 were from ague, 28 from
chronic rheumatism, 10 from boils, 10 from debility and 10 from contusions; the remaining
77 include various diseases. There does not seem to have been any particularly interesting
case during the year, neither have any operations had to be performed.
Vaccination.—The Regiment is protected by vaccination; 11 children belonging to the
wing were vaccinated during the year, viz., 3 males and 8 females, 2 of the latter were unsuc
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cessful.