54
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
The site of the Deesa cantonment is on a flat sandy tract (traversed by the river Bunas),
and presents during the dry season a uniform, arid, and scorched appearance ; the soil con
-
sists entirely of light, fine sand. The only sign of vegetation in the hot season is to be found
in a number of sickly-looking neem trees in the compounds of Officers' bungalows. The road-
sides have been recently planted with young trees. The roads, though badly kept, are in
pretty good order during the dry weather, but quite unfit for use during the rains ; the
only other feature worth notice is the existence of a good natural fall for surface drainage,
through the middle of the cantonment and terminating in the river. Remembering this fact,
and remembering also that considerable tracts of the cantonment are flooded during the rains,
it would seem that there is a great deal of good yet to be done by improving the existing
natural drainage.
In all other respects the cantonment is clean and salubrious.
The neighbourhood surrounding Deesa is for the most part free from jungle and partly
cultivated. Twenty years ago the jungle on the north side of Deesa reached to within three
miles of camp limits ; it has now receded, so that there is nothing that can be called jungle within
fourteen or fifteen miles of camp limits. This, most likely, has had more to do with the de-
crease of fever as shown by statistics in Deesa, than even the many improvements in sanitary
arrangements. Fever, small-pox, and guinea-worm seem to be the most prevailing complaints
in the country about, particularly fever, which in the months of August, September, October,
and November, prevails to a very great extent every where, but most especially in the villages
situated in the jungle, where every native seems to be affected with it more or less—some
villages seem to suffer more than others, those close to the foot of Aboo, Jeyraj, and other
hills seem to be the most unfortunate villages. Frequently those localities are seen one year
in a thriving condition and the next year deserted ; most of the inhabitants having died of fever,
and the others deserted through fear of the same fate.
In the jungle villages, cholera is comparatively unknown. The hot weather of 1869 was,
however, an exceptional season, and a great many of the inhabitants of these villages, weak
-
ened by famine, died of cholera.
The town of old Deesa, about three miles from camp, the Guickwar's lines and village of
Rajpoor, between old Deesa and camp, are notoriously unhealthy and filthy even as compared
with other native places ; cholera frequently visits old Deesa, when unknown any where else.
Chundessur, a large village about 8 miles from camp, is another hot-bed of disease, fever always,
and cholera frequently existing there. The great sickness at this place may be attributed to
the fact that there are no wells, the water-supply being from the village tank ; and this being
dependent on the rain for its existence, becomes towards the end of the hot weather filthy and
stagnant to a degree, stirred up as it is by hundreds of camels, buffaloes and other cattle. In
order to preserve the cantonment of Deesa from the intromission of cholera and small-pox from
these villages, it is necessary to guard against the conveyance of these poisons within the
cantonment limits by every precaution and every protection possible. Secondly, if it is found
impossible to close the entrance, to expel these poisons from the large native towns and
villages by a thorough system of sanitary supervision.
North of Deesa, and lying almost between it and Aboo, lies the hill or mountain of Jeyraj,
called by the Bheels Jower. This hill deserves attention, as from its situation and other points
it has many advantages over Aboo, considered as a locality for a sanitarium, which may be
shown as follows :—
1stly. —The distance from Deesa to the village of Taira, situated at that part of the foot
of Jeyraj from where the easiest ascent commences, is only 18 miles from Deesa camp, whereas
Auadra, at the foot of Aboo is 50 miles from Deesa.