116
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
3. The water is derived from the Indus, distant about 3 miles, either by branches,
canals, or percolation ; it commences to rise in April from the melting Himalyan snow aided
by rain, and gradually increases until it obtains an average height of 16½ feet above average low
- w a t e r m a r k , b e i n g t h e n a b o u t 1 f o o t o n l y b e l o w t h e s u r f a c e o f t h e c o u n t r y a d j a c e n t t o t h e
eastern bank ; it fills all the tanks, canals, &c., and saturates the sub-soil from which the wells
obtain their supply, and it gradually falls about August. Analysis of Indus water : —Colour.
turbid ; after 24 hours, clear. Taste, slightly earthy. Smell, none. Re-action, slightly acid.
Organic matter, none. Lime, turbidity; after boiling, clear. Chlorine, qualitative, slight turbiditys
quantitative, 4 grains salt per gallon. Sulphuric acid, slight precipitate. Soap test, 9 grain
per gallon, 4½ grains after boiling—carbonate of lime. Solids per gallon, 15 grains ; n,
blackening. Sediment, 28 grains per gallon in 24 hours. Remarks.—Is an excellent water
There are surface drains which carry off the rainfall fairly if it is not very heavy and
continuous, but this year 6.19 inches fell in 24 hours (from
noon on the 18th July till the middle of the following day,) and
as the drains were unequal to carry off this unusual quantity, water collected to the depth
of a foot, and remained for a few days in the low-lying portions of the cantonment. There
are no drains for sewage, as this is carted to a distance.
4. The cantonment being elevated, and the surrounding country flat, there is generally
a strong sea-breeze from the south-west from April to October,
which during the day is rendered very hot and dry in its
passage over the barren sandy country lying between the station and the sea ; but at night
by parting with its moisture it reaches the cantonment as a cool refreshing breeze which
renders the nights bearable, there being only a few during which this breeze fails. The
cantonment being situated on a rock reflects and radiates the sun's heat. The wind during
the other months generally blows from the north-east, and is harsh, cold, and dry.
5. The lines have a S.W. front, and are disposed in the form of a right-angled paral
lellogram, the longer sides, 257 yards, facing respectively N.E
and S. W. ; and the shorter, 152 yards, N.W. and S.E., and
consist of 48 detached, flat-roofed, mud buildings with 11 parallel streets which run the entire
length from N.E. to S.W., each 9 yards wide, except the 5th from the S.E., which is 23 yards
wide, and 3 parallel streets which run at right angles to the former the entire length from
N.W. to S.E. The first and second of these, counting from the S.W., are 20 yards wide,
and the third 11 yards. The first, second and third rows from the front contain 36 pendalls,
12 in each row, and the fourth or rear row consists of 12 Native officers' huts ; all these are
arranged in parallel rows. All the buildings are on the surface, and not raised on plinths.
There is a foot-path, 6 inches high and 4 feet wide, all round each pendall, but not round the
Native officers' quarters. The lines are in a good state of repair. Each pendall is ventilated
by 3 fixed cowls on the roof facing S.W., and by 8 doors on each side, and 2 at each
end ; each Native officer's block is ventilated by 1 cowl, similar
to those on the pendalls, and is in common between the 2 Native
officers' quarters into which each block is divided. There are also two doors to each Native
officer's quarters. The sanitary arrangements are carefully
attended to by the bazaar master, who has under him a staff of
sweepers with carts. There is no drainage, the soiled water being distributed to trees planted
in the lines, and any superfluous amount is carted away. The
lines being on elevated ground are not flooded in wet weather,
but the pendalls are flooded, as there is no escape for the water from the floors, they not
being built on plinths.
r
6 . T h e r e a r e 4 p e r m a n e n t l a t r i n e s — 2 f o r m a l e s , e a c h c o n t a i n i n g 2 8 s e a t s , a n d 2 f o e
females, each containing 12 seats. 1 male and 1 female latrin.
are situated about 54 yards from each rear corner of the lines-
They are on the standard plan, and are very defective, as
the pans and pan compartments are too short, and the urine frequently falls on the floors
in front. The defects and the alterations required have been reported to the proper authority.
7. The water is obtained from 3 wells close to the foot of the plateau on which the
cantonment is situated ; these obtain their supply from the
Indus, and rise and fall with that river. Analysis of Belooch
well-water :—Colour, clear. Taste, slightly earthy. Smell, none. Re-action, very slightly
acid. Organic matter, none. Lime, slightly precipitate ; after boiling, clear. Chlorine,
qualitative, turbidity ; quantitative, 10 grains salt per gallon. Sulphuric acid, slight pre-
- c i p i t a t e .
S o a p t e s t ,
3 ½ g r a i n s p e r g a l l o n — c a r b o n a t e o f l i m e .S
o l i d s
p e r
g a l l o n ,
3 9 g r a i n s ; n o
blackening. Sediment, none. Remarks .—This is an excellent water.
8. Quality good, fairly abundant, and cheap.
Drainage.
Climate.
Lines.
Ventilation.
Bazaar.
Drainage.
Conservancy and Sanitary Ar
-rangements.
Water-supply.
Food.
Clothing.
9. The clothing is altered to suit the season of year
and is sufficient and suitable.