NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
105
REMARKS BY DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL D. WYLLIE, M.D.
Health much more satisfactory than in previous year, although the return still evidences
undue sickness. Lines defective in construction and ventilation; cubage of huts only 500 feet;
floors mostly below ground-level; water-supply by wells ample and good; food abundant and
cheap; duties moderate; masonry latrines, with tolerably efficient conservancy. The hospital,
inspected December 8th, has ample and good accommodation for all ordinary requirements;
but there is no dead-house or contagious ward. Establishment and equipment complete.
Vaccination was attended to.
H. M.'s 10th Regiment N. L. I.
MEHIDPUR.—In medical charge of Surgeon-Major A. N. HOJEL; Strength, 361.
1 . T h e h e a d - q u a r t e r s o f t h e 1 0 t h R e g i m e n t N . L . I . h a s b e e n s t a t i o n e d i n t h i s c a m p f o r t h e
past year. In the month of November a detachment of 82 men
marched to Jawra to form a guard for the Right Honourable
the Governor-General. They were absent from camp for 17
days.
2. The climate, judging from its effects on the health of the troops stationed here, is
most trying. Extensive drainage operations, in the form of earth
-trenches leading to the river and nallahs, have been completed
during the year, so that no doubt the camp will not be as complete a swamp during the next
rainy season as it has hitherto been; yet from its position, configuration, and the nature of
the soil, I fear that this station will never attain that sanitary state which could be wished.
Strangely enough the cold season in Mehidpur, although delightful to the senses, does not
seem to bring that accession of health to the men which might be expected; a large number
of fever cases continue to be admitted. This was also observed when the 25th Regiment
N. L. I. were stationed here, the number of their fever cases in the cold weather of 1873-74
being so large that it was thought advisable to remove the regiment. This state of affairs,
recurring, as it does, every year, points indubitably to endemic malarious influences, and it is
a question whether it would be advisable to abandon the station altogether, should not be
considered. with propriety. In any case no troops can be kept here long without suffering
greatly in health, and the men's constitutions being undermined by, and the foundation of
organic disease in many being laid by, the insidious working of malarious poison. If, having
regard to State reasons, the station cannot be abandoned, no corps should be allowed to re
-main in it for more than two years as an outside limit. If troops are allowed to remain here
longer, not only will most of the men's constitutions be seriously impaired, but the State
must be a heavy loser by the large sick lists and the number of men that will have to be
invalided and pensioned, and the recruiting charges that must be incurred to fill up the thin
-ned ranks. This is a matter which is entitled to the earnest consideration of the authorities.
A regiment that has been subjected to the baneful effects of this climate for two or more
years, should have a thorough change, be removed altogether from Central India, and station
-ed in some salubrious place, such as Dharwar, Satara, or Poona, so as to give the men a fair
chance of regaining their shattered health.
3. The trench system is in force during the dry months. Last monsoon temporary cover
-ed latrines were introduced, which were in every way a marked
improvement on the plan of having open trenches during the rainy
season. The ground occupied by trenches last year (about 2¼
b i g h a s ) w a s c u l t i v a t e d , a n d p r o d u c e d a f a i r c r o p o f N a t i v e v e g e t a b l e s .
4. The river Supra and surface-dipping wells are the sources of the water-supply to
this station; both have been most unfavourably reported on
by the Chemical Analyser to Government. In the hot season the
wells are nearly dry, and the river water is of necessity the main source of supply. During the
rains the men prefer collecting rain water wherever it lodges in pools, to using either the
river or the well water. A well is now being sunk near the river in view to a supply of
purer water being obtained by filtration.
5 . S u p p l i e s a r e l i m i t e d , a n d n o t a l w a y s t o b e h a d a t r e a s o n a b l e r a t e s . T h e r e c a n b e n o
doubt that the great difficulty in communicating with Oojein in
the rains, owing to the absence of a made road, tends greatly to
enhance the price of provisions at that season of the year.
At all times vegetables are scarce.
B 6 6 — A
Location and Movement of
Corps.
Effects on Climate.
Conservancy and Sanitary Ar
-rangements.
Water-supply.
Food, Quality of, and whether
abundant and cheap.