113
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
14. There has been a decrease of 293 in the number of admissions as compared
Special Observations.
with 1874. The greatest decrease (216) occurs under the head
of malarial fevers. In all other classes of disease, with the
exception of " local injuries ", the decrease is more or less marked; in this class there is
an increase of 8, which is due to the number of cases of foot-soreness which occurred on
the march. The year may thus be said to have been healthy.
15. With reeard to the trench latrine system as carried out at Nusseerabad, it is. I
Resumé.
think, open to objection, more especially during the rains. My
reasons for this opinion are, the limited extent of ground, the
situation being in a slight hollow and in close proximity to the temporary tank mentioned
in the earlier part of this report. I may state that, though not a recognised source of water-
supply, I believe the water of this tank is used for drinking purposes. As a system generally
in use, that of trench latrines appears to be open to objection from the difficulty of getting
the sepoys to use the trench : this was prominently brought to notice when the head-
quarters of this regiment arrived in Mhow, and found the huts they were to occupy in many
cases apparently but recently used for latrine purposes. As the regiment is now in Mhow,
I may mention that the huts at this station are but a poor substitute for those at Nusseera-
bad. They are lower, closer together, not so well built, and are not at all raised from the
ground, and I think it is exceedingly doubtful if the roofs would prove waterproof in the
rains. The hospital is also inferior, and even at the present season it is often found close
at the time of the evening visit, though the opening in the roof and some of the doors are
always kept open. Referring to an observation, made under the head of marches, about the
issue of grass on an occasion of wet, I will take the liberty of stating that in Native regi-
mental hospitals on the march I am of opinion that an issue of grass or straw for the sick
to lie upon, would be conducive to their more rapid recovery. Patients suffering from
fevers, lung diseases, and bowel complaints are likely to be much longer under treatment
when compelled to lie on the ground only protected by the scanty bedding of the sepoy,
which seldom consists of more than a small carpet, a sheet and a quilt, the last being used as
a cover.
16. The medical pupil is taught the application of bandages and dressing, dispensing,
preparation of hospital forms, and the value of physical examination of patients at the
bed-side.
Observations made at the Hospital of H. M.'s 3rd Regiment Native Light Infantry, at
Nusseerabad, on the Mean Level of the Sub-soil Water.
Locality or
Designation
of Well.
Date and Hour of Measurement.
Distance of Sub-soil
Water below Surface
of Ground.
Rainfall from Date of
last Measurement.
W e l l i n h o s p i t a l c o m p o u n d
15th January 1875, at 5 A.M.
...
...
Feet in.
In. c t s .
. . .
. . .
15th February
do.
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
15th March
do.
. . .
...
24 0
. . .
15th April
do.
. . .
. . .
25 0
. . .
15th May
do.
...
...
28 0
. . .
15th June
do.
. . .
. . .
24 4
3 5
15th July
do.
...
...
21 2
3 89
15th August
do.
...
...
15 10
7 10
15th September do.
...
...
16 10
2 33
15th October
do.
...
...
5 3
8 85
15th November
do.
...
. . .
13 0
. . .
15th December
do.
. . .
...
. . .
. . .
REMARKS BY DEPUTY SURGEON—GENERAL D. WYLLIE, M.D.
The Nusseerabad lines are better than average, locality good, with fair drainage ; cubage
of huts fully 800 feet, with tolerable ventilation ; water, very defective wells, with rare
exceptions saline, drinking supply chiefly brought on camels from a distance of 3 miles ;
food abundant, duties moderate, trench latrines throughout. Health was very satisfactory.
Hospital was occupied by men of the right wing at the date of inspection, November 29th.
It has ample, well-ventilated accommodation on the Bengal standard plan, and is complete
in out-offices. Vaccination and re-vaccination were carried on by the station vaccinator.
B 66—c