Food.
Duties.
Influence of Rainfall.
General Health and Physique of
the Men.
82
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
The sick are accommodated in the Hibbert Hospital, there being no separate building,
and on occasions of crowding treated in the lines. No vaccination was performed. In
regard of the fact that a number of men were invalided last year from the effects of fever
contracted at Barda Choki, and that there are others broken in health and permanently un
-fitted, as I realized at my recent inspection of the 28th Regiment, I am of opinion that this
detachment should, if possible, be withdrawn, or moved to some other and more healthy loca
-lity.
Detachment H. M.'s 7th Regiment N. I.
DWÁRKA.—In medical charge of 3rd Class Hospital Assistant RAGOONATH;
Strength, 80.7.
1 . T h e d e t a c h m e n t , c o n s i s t i n g o f 1 E u r o p e a n o f f i c e r , 2 N a t i v e o f f i c e r s , a n d 8 8 r a n k a n d
file, relieved the detachment H. M.'s 28th Regiment in Jan
-uary last, and is located at the camp, which is about half a mile
to the north of the town of Dwárka.
2 . T h e s o i l r o c k y , t h e q u a l i t y o f t h e w a t e r g o o d . T h e c l i m a t e t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r
is very salubrious, and more so from the commencement of
April to the middle of October; after this time east winds set
in, which are unhealthy, inasmuch as fever becomes rife during their prevalence.
3. There are three lines for the detachment, and the space available for each man is
sufficient. Ventilation is perfect. The bazaar in the town
contains all necessaries. There is no village close to the camp.
There are no regular drains, but the rainfall does not so collect as to endanger the health of
the detachment. There are two ponds in the vicinity of the camp; but, as there are any
number of wells here, the water contained in them is not made use of by the detachment.
There is only one privy for the use of the sick; but the men of the detachment have no
privy, and they are obliged to go to the jungle. The water is from a well about 200 yards
from the lines, quantity abundant, and the quality good.
Location and Movement of
Corps.
Topography.
Lines.
Lock-up Room and Cells.
4. Food grains are of good quality, abundant, and moder
-ately cheap.
5. The duties were rather hard, as the men only got 2½
nights in bed; but these duties don't seem to exercise any bad
influence on their health.
6. Offenders are lodged in the quarter-guard, where ven
-tilation is quite perfect.
7. There is no separate building for the hospital, and the sick are lodged in two
rooms in the lines; the ventilation of these is not so perfect
as could be desired. The space is too small when the number
of sick exceeds 5; and, as more than that number is usually under treatment, there is some
over-crowding. The water-supply of the hospital is derived from the same source as that
of the detachment, the quantity abundant, and the quality good.
8 . F e v e r g a v e t h e l a r g e s t n u m b e r o f s i c k d u r i n g t h e y e a r , a n d n e x t c o m e s c h r o n i c
rheumatism. 1 European officer died. No invaliding during
the year, nor discharge by court-martial. The principal cause
of sickness is probably malaria.
Hospital.
Sickness, Mortality, and Invalid-
ing.
9. There is no evidence of the small quantity of rainfall
exerting any evil influence on the health of the men.
10. The men throughout the year enjoyed good health,
and they have greatly improved in appearance.
11. I would observe that a want of a proper hospital building is greatly felt by the
detachment; besides this, I would also observe that there are
no quarters for the hospital assistant with the detachment and
hospital servants.
Special Observations.