70
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
a b o u t 1 ½ m i l e t o t h e w e s t o f c a m p ; t h e a b o l i t i o n o f w h i c h i n d e e d , o f t e n c a u s e s m a n y o f t h e w e l l s
to run dry during the hot season. This tank was done away with on the plea of sanitary im-
provement, but I think the returns most fully prove that, since this measure was adopted, the
health of the troops has very considerably deteriorated; epidemics have occurred quite
as frequently as formerly, and intermittent fever has been much more prevalent. Besides
these wells, the only water-supply of camp is the two nullahs running on either side, which
are used by the natives to a considerable extent, not only for purposes of ablution, but
also for cooking and drinking. On this account, I am of opinion that every care should be
taken to prevent their contamination by sewage, &c. Unfortunately this is very difficult
to effect, owing to the formation of the ground on which the cantonment is situated,
which forces all the natural drainage to take the direction of these nullahs. The overlying
soil is very shallow and the substratum is of hard sandstone rock, which directs the whole
of the subsoil drainage towards these nullahs, carrying with it of course all the impurities
which in so large a cantonment must be numerous. This fact alone is a very serious obstacle
to the introduction of the trench system of latrines, as the water would very speedily become
contaminated from the use of them. I am of opinion that the water is now to a great extent
contaminated by the pursuance of the plan of utilising the ordure in the Government gardens,
both of which are situated in the immediate vicinity of those nullahs. The latrine system as at
present in vogue for the 28th Regiment and bazaar is far from good ; the smell from the la
- t r i n e s b e i n g a t t i m e s v e r y o f f e n s i v e , m o r e e s p e c i a l l y i n t h o s e b e l o n g i n g t o t h e b a z a a r . I a m
convinced that, excepting the trench system which is not practicable in all situations, no tho
- r o u g h l y g o o d s y s t e m o f l a t r i n e s f o r n a t i v e s h a s b e e n d i s c o v e r e d . F o r t h e s u c c e s s f u l a d o p t i o n
of the trench system of latrines, there are two conditions which I should consider indispen
- s a b l e . F i r s t , t h a t t h e s p o t s e l e c t e d s h o u l d b e l e v e l a n d h a v e n o l a t e r a l d r a i n a g e , m o r e e s p e c i a l l y
towards wells, nullahs, or rivers, the water of which is used for drinking purposes, &c.
Secondly, that the soil should be light and loamy, so as to act rapidly and efficaciously on the
ordure. In this station neither of these two requirements can be found combined in any
situation ; on this account I consider the introduction of this system of latrines impossible.
I must now go on to speak of matters concerning more especially this Regiment.
First, the lines occupied by the 28th are well situated on ground which slopes gradually
down to the nullah, distant about half a mile, the intervening space being smooth maidan in
-tersected by several small nullahs. They are clean and kept perfectly free from all rank vege
- t a t i o n , b u t w h e n s o m u c h h a s b e e n s a i d i n t h e i r f a v o u r , a l l h a s b e e n s a i d w h i c h w e l l c a n b e .
They contain the most wretched accommodation for the men ; the rooms are extremely small,
being only 6 feet by 8, and utterly without ventilation except by way of a door. To these two
facts, I attribute in a great measure the bad health of the men of the Regiment in this place.
The rooms are too small to allow the use of a charpoy, consequently the men have to sleep on
the ground, a fact very prejudicial to health, more especially during the latter months of the
year, and accounts in a great measure for the large number of admissions from fever.
The latrines, distant some 500 yards from the lines, are on the the old principle in which
lime and charcoal are used as disinfectants. The hospital for the greater part of the year was
situated in the Lawrence Bungalow, together with the staff and cavalry hospital. The build
- i n g w a s a l t o g e t h e r i n a d e q u a t e t o t h e w a n t s o f t h e t h r e e h o s p i t a l s , a l a r g e n u m b e r o f t h e s i c k
being obliged to be placed in tents ; but it was not till November that any other arrangements
could be made. At that time two of the old barracks lately vacated by the detachment 1/8 Re
- g i m e n t w e r e h a n d e d o v e r t o t h e R e g i m e n t f o r h o s p i t a l u s e . T h e s e b u i l d i n g s a r e a i r y , c l e a n ,
and situated close to the lines, and very well adapted to the purpose. During the past year,
the number of admissions into hospital have not been quite so numerous as during the previous
one, being 1,022 in 1870 against 1,088 in 1869 ; but still I cannot say that the health of the
Regiment has in any way improved, as the different diseases assumed a much more severe form,
and the men have recovered but slowly from their effects. The men are at present in a weakly