56
SKETCH OP THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
REMARKS ON THE FATIGUE DRESS.
1. Jacket and trowsers.—The dye used in colouring. these, is from indigo, and is not a
fixed dye, the slightest moisture causing it to give. All under clothing worn with it becomes
stained a bright blue, and the odour from it when new or moist with perspiration or rain is
most unpleasant.
As regards the texture, this dress is only, suitable to the hot weather; in the rains and cold
season, a warmer material would be better, and would probably save many from fever, rheu
matism, and diarrhœa.
1. Puggree and Shoes —suitable for ordinary , camp duties.
Marching order, or Service Dress, consists
of—
1. Puggree—the same as in the Fatigue dress.
2.
2. Alkalick or coat—of thick French grey cloth.
3.
3. Trowsers and breeches—of thick dark blue cloth.
3 Yards of the same thin red cotton material as in the
Puggree.
4. Cummerbund or waist cloth.
5. Long boots—covering the knee.
6. Large cloak with cape—Cavalry pattern, of dark blue cloth.
REMARKS ON THE FULL DRESS.
1.
Puggree not at suited as a protection from either sun, rain, cold, or from sword
cuts. Men of the Regiment have frequently complained when out in the districts that the sun
affects their heads, and it is well known that all when out of camp, and not under the eye of
an officer, invariably cover their heads with any cloth that they can get hold of, both as pro
-
tection from heat and cold.
The large fold of a Sheik turband usually worn by the men of the Bengal Irregular
Calvalry, are sword proof, and afford complete protection from heat and cold, besides giving
a soldier-like and becoming appearance to the Native Cavalry soldier, who of all others requires
good protection for his head, as he is necessarily more liable to injury in that portion of his
person than the foot soldiers.
2.
Alkalick is made of thick coarse cloth, tight-fitting, with long skirts, and is from its
shape difficult to cut and fit properly, and generally renders the man incased in it unable to
raise his hands above his head without great exertion.
A. loose tunic of softer cloth might be advantageously substituted as far as comfort and
appearance go, besides giving the men the free use of their arms and lungs.
4.
Cummerbund as worn is useless; three yards only of thin material, if meant as a pro-
tection to the sides and stomach, can be of little service for the purpose intended.
5.
Long Boots are mostly of native manufacture and fearfully unwieldy (boots and spurs
alone weighing 6 lbs. !!), a man can with difficulty walk in them. Should the Regiment have
occasion to swim across a river with the horses, the chances are that the men's boots would
sink men and horses.
These might be advantageously replaced by thick gaiters covering the knee, the same
shape as the leg part of the boot, and opening at the outside seam with a steel bar and stud;
these could be worn with the fatigue dress shoes, and would protect the leg well from kicks,
thorns, &c., and unlike the boots would not hold water. These gaiters might also be worn
over the trowsers doing away with breeches and reducing the size of the man's kit. Further a
man wearing gaiters and shoes could walk if necessary without difficulty, which he could not do
in the present boots.
I am informed by au eye witness that it was a painful and ludicrous sight in Abyssinia to