29
NORTHERN DISTRICT.
Surgeon-Major J. S. Ridings, M.D., was in medical charge of this corps during
the year, and reports as under:—
Climate of the station.—During the months of January and February the climate was cool and
extremely pleasant, the heavy dense fogs which usually prevail in these months having been
almost altogether absent; March, April, May, and beginning of June constituted the hot season,
which was very bearable, and by no means intense. At their close heavy thunder-storms ushered
in the rainy season (about 10th June), and which may be said to have lasted until about 20th
October.
The amount of rainfall was 92 inches, the usual annual fall being 63 inches.
September and October are always the most unpleasant months of the year at Cuttack, being
generally damp, sultry, muggy, relaxing, most oppressive weather; but this year they were less
trying than usual, the cold season having partially set in early in October.
November and December are well nigh the perfection of weather, early mornings, evenings,
and nights extremely cold, day time moderately warm, air dry and exhilarating.
Natural features of the district .—The soil generally is alluvial with isolated hills of gneiss
and occasional areas of grit, sandstone, and conglomerate, with beds of white or pinkish clay, and
of laterite of detrital origin, consisting of nodules of hydrated oxide of iron and coarse quartz sand,
cemented together more or less perfectly. Some 8 to 10 miles to the west is a range of picturesque
forest-clad hills from 300 to 3,000 feet high; the surrounding country consists for the most part of
rich rice fields interspered with clumps of bamboo, banian, palm, and mango trees, stretching away
for some 40 miles eastward to the low mangrove-covered region fringing the coast line of the
delta to a depth of 15 to 20 miles. The cantonment and town of Cuttack are situated on opposite
sides of what may be considered an island (2 miles in width at their position) lying in the fork
or bifurcation of the "Mahanuddy," the main stream, which retains the parent name, bound
-ing it on the north, while its branch, the "Katjuri," of almost equal magnitude, both varying
from 1 to 1½ miles, bounds it on the south, the regimental lines being about 3 miles distant
from the eastern end of the island where the rivers branch. The island is rather depressed
in centre, the river banks on both sides being artificially-raised bands faced with masonry to keep
out the rivers during seasons of high floods which occasionally threaten destruction to the town.
Its surface is for the most part marshy; numerous tanks covered with rank vegetation abound, and
must exercise a most prejudicial influence on the health of the community. Drainage is
necessarily very bad. Productions consist of rice, the staple of "Orissa," a coarse seed called
mandua, wheat and barley, gram and peas, jute, hemp and cotton, mustard, castor-oil, linseed,
tobacco, sugarcane, turmeric, ginger, &c. All kinds of European and native vegetables thrive
luxuriantly.
Diseases of the district .—Intermittent fevers, generally of a mild type, are common throughout
the year, but especially prevalent amongst the native community at close of the rains and during
the cold season, at which time also catarrhal and rheumatic affections are frequent. Leprosy in
both its forms, but especially as elephantiasis, is endemic. Hooping-cough, measles and small-pox,
the latter during early months of the year, owing to the exertions of inoculators at that season,
are also prevailing diseases. Cholera rages yearly amongst the ill-fed, ill-housed, unwashed,
exhausted (both physically and mentally) host of pilgrims who visit Pooree in the months of June,
July, and August, but of late years has been almost unknown in epidemic form at Cuttack itself.
Police and military guards are during dangerous seasons posted at the ferries to prevent the
pilgrims entering the town or cantonment; residents returning from Pooree are, however, admitted,
so that the quarantine is after all but partial and incomplete; however it certainly has its
advantages.
Climate of the
station.
Natural
features of
the district.
Diseases of
the district.
Ventilation and drainage of the men's huts and guard-rooms.—Ventilation and drainage of the
guard-rooms is satisfactory, but as regards the sepoys' huts very much the reverse, they being of
altogether insufficient capacity and much below the standard regulation superficial area and cubic
capacity, besides being in a very dilapidated condition, generally from ordinary wear during a
long series of years. Intervening streets are altogether too narrow. The regimental bazaar,
which is actually conterminous with the civil bazaar, abuts upon the Drummers' and H Company's
lines, instead of being separated from them by a wide interval. Nothing short of complete
rebuilding, and reconstruction on a totally different principle, would be of any use.
Nuisance.—The whole subject of drainage has been in late years brought to the notice of
Government, without, up to present, any practical result. The drainage of the lines could hardly
possibly be worse, the ground itself almost a dead level, the drains simply shallow open trenches,
into which flows all liquid filth from the huts, as well as surface drainage generally percolating
into the subsoil, and, during greater portion of the year, when there is no rainfall to flush the
channels, giving rise to most offensive odours. I understand, however, that the Executive Engi
-neer is about to undertake the stone-facing of these shallow side trenches.
Ventilation
and drainage
of the men's
huts and
guard-rooms.
Nuisance.
The two large main drains, running north and south of the lines, which are supposed to
receive the drainage of all the shallow side trenches, are unfaced, and constantly become partially
silted up with mud. The Secretary to Government of Bengal, in his letter of 26th July 1873,
recommended "that the open drains should be merely utilized for their legitimate purpose of