POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
ing Board at Poona in November. The diseases which more commonly required that the
men suffering from them should have change of scene and climate, were fevers and bowel
-complaints.
The causes of the permanent invaliding of the thirty-four men, were the following, given
in the order of their frequency, viz.:
—
Old age, long service and debility arising therefrom, 16 in number.
Varicose veins in lower limbs, 4.
Syphilis, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and loss of teeth, of each, 2.
Chronic dysentery and diarrhœa, inguinal hernia, otitis and loss of hearing, leprosy,
heart disease; of stricture urethra and urinary fistula, of each, 1.
There were altogether 7 deaths of men in the Regiment who happened to be on leave or
on small detachment duties and four in hospital; eleven in all during the year.
The lines in Poona were new, built on the new standard plan, well supplied with
latrines which were always kept in good sanitary condition. The water supply was from tanks
and was of good quality; the drainage was surface.
The hospital in Poona was found usually sufficient, there were separate wards for conta
-gious diseases. There was indifferent accommodation for first class hospital servants; there
was also accommodation for second class. The water supply was from a well in the neigh
-bourhood; the ventilation of the hospital was deficient.
The lines and hospital arrangements in Deesa are more important now for this Regiment;
they will be treated more fully.
The lines are built on the old standard plan and are sufficient for the full complement
of a Native Infantry Regiment. The houses are badly ventilated, the egress and ingress for
air being by the door, they are well shaded by trees and the drainage is surface. The lines
run east to west and are surrounded by "nullahs" on all sides except the north. The
water supply is from wells, it is abundant and of good quality. The latrine arrangements are
very defective; the latrines are trenches dug in the sand, in the bottom of a "nullah" on the
west of the lines; they are surrounded by hedges, but these not being a sufficient protection
from view, the men are accustomed to go for these purposes into any of the " nullahs"
near, so that the surroundings of the lines are in a very bad sanitary state indeed. This
state of matters has been frequently reported on within the past few years, but no attention
has been paid to it.
The hospital is situated on a rising ground about half a mile distant from the lines, it is
very deficient in size for the amount of sickness which usually prevails here. If 22 beds are
placed in the hospital, each will have an allowance of 95½ feet superficial area and about 1,500
cubic feet of air. It is ventilated by doors and windows, its openest side looking toward
the south-west. A verandah runs round it; the bathing arrangements are deficient, there
being one wooden tub which is placed in the verandah at one end of the hospital; there are
no wards for contagious diseases. The water supply is abundant from a deep well in the
compound, and it is said to be of good quality, there is a pavement all round it. The
latrines are sufficient and are kept in good order; accommodation for first class hospital
servants is totally wanting; there is accommodation for second class servants. Reports on
this subject have been made frequently, but no improvement has resulted.
Gymnastics are paid great attention to, and many of the men are thus in a high state of
physical efficiency.
Taking the year in review, it may be seen that few Regiments in the Bombay Presidency
have enjoyed better health than the 24th Regiment N. I., as is evidenced by the daily average
sick—14—for the whole year.