42
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
Report on the new Lines of H. M.'s 1st Drenadier Regiment A. E.
By Assistant Surgeon B. KEELAN.
The newly-built lines are spread over the widest available area on a gently sloping ground,
measuring 890 feet by 790 feet, arranged in rows of pendalls extending transversely across
the incline, and intersected by two large streets which cross each other at right angles in the
centre of the lines. The gable ends of the pendalls face east and west (thus avoiding the
deleterious east wind so very prevalent in this station) and their broadsides north and south.
In no case does one building obstruct air or light from another, the streets between every
row being so very wide, and, in consequence of the heavy monsoon here which lasts till Novem
-
ber, all the gable ends facing the west are built of laterite, and not of brick mud dried in the
sun like the other walls, thereby, on account of keeping out the damp during this season,
increasing the comfort of the men.
The floor of each house is raised about 2½ feet from the level of the ground outside (and
in some instances even 4 feet), and the surface drainage is so skilfully contrived that water
cannot accumulate anywhere near the entrance.
The floors are kept very clean and swept out daily, but as they are entirely made of
earth, notwithstanding their elevated position, it is difficult to keep them perfectly free from
the damp during the monsoon. I think it would be a good plan to have them all flagged like
the floor of the hospital, or paved with small stones; but I fear the latter would be difficult to
obtain in this station. 'Flag floors might be made for very little outlay, and, as they are the
best material for keeping out the damp, no doubt the introduction of such a system in Belgaum
would be a source of comfort, and possibly of increased health of the men.
The monsoon here averages about 51 or 52 inches of rainfall extending from about the
7th of June until November, besides which there are heavy showers occasionally during the
other months of the year. Owing to the situation of the station of Belgaum, placed as it is
near the crest of the Ghats, the air becomes unusually damp during the period of the rains
—
an effect which is further increased by the cool atmosphere of the locality, the high winds
and the low elevation of the clouds; any steps, therefore, to secure the greatest possible comfort
to the sepoys, must be attended by a proportionate value to Government in a sanitary point
of view.
Drainage.— The surface drainage is very skifully planned, the water during the monsoon
passing off very readily down the slope in deep trenches made for the purpose, and finally
escaping into a "nulla" named "Nagghirree," situated about 50 yards from the foot of the
lines.
Ventilation.— Each pendall is divided into two rows of dwellings by a central wall support
-
ing the roof; these constitute the quarters of the Non-Commissioned Officers as well as those
of the privates of the Regiment, the former occupying the corner houses of each pendall, which
are rather better and more capacious. The native Commissioned Officers live in detached
h o u s e s o n t h e o u t s k i r t s o f t h e l i n e s , a s s e e n i n t h e p l a n h e r e w i t h a t t a c h e d .
Each sepoy's dwelling contains an inside room measuring 1,508 cubic feet, together with
an inner or enclosed verandah, which includes a bathing place, measuring 380 cubic feet
allowed for each sepoy. There is a door and window on the outer wall of each verandah, and
the roof contains a large opening roofed in as seen in the accompanying photographs; by means
of these apertures there is a good up current of fresh air constantly obtained.
The Non-Commissioned Officers' quarters, like those of the sepoys, are divided into inner
room and inner verandah, the former measuring 1,677½ cubic feet, and the latter 798 cubic
feet; and in addition to the means adopted for ventilating the sepoys' houses, these have each
one window on the gable end containing six apertures.