4
A SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
2. Under this head I have but few remarks to offer. 76.28 inches of rain were regis
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tered, being 7½ inches less than in the previous year; and I
think the rainy season of 1875 was, speaking generally, more
favourable to health than that of 1874.
3. Having in my last report fully described the lines at Boree Buuder, it is not
necessary to do so again; a few remarks, however, I may be
permitted to offer. In the first place, the ground of the line
enclosure remains in the same rocky and uneven condition as formerly mentioned, and
urgently requires levelling; even in the day time walking through the lines is difficult and
not devoid of risk, while on a dark night I should say that a severe sprain or contusion
would be almost inevitable. At the beginning of the monsoon I wrote in, recommending
that water-proof sheets should be issued to the men; but, as the Commissariat authorities had
not sufficient in store in Bombay, it could not be done. I am glad, however, to be able to
state that the men's huts were not nearly so damp during the year as in 1874; this was, no
doubt, due to the fact that the rainfall was more equally distributed over the rainy months
than in 1874. The P. W. D. has been engaged during the year in re-building the lines;
a great many of the pendalls have been pulled down and re-constructed, and I believe
the work will have been entirely completed by the end of February 1876. The newly
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constructed pendalls have been built upon the same ground on which the old ones
stood, and therefore contain the same amount of superficial space; but they are much
superior to the old ones in some respects, being for the most part raised on plinths, and
having doors of 6 feet high, which facilitate ventilation. It is, I think, however, a matter
for regret that, in spite of previous reports upon the subject,
the new pendalls have been constructed without any roof
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ventilation, and without permanent bathing places. I believe a central drain is to be made
down each street in the lines; but the drainage of individual houses can be perfect only
when stone-and-lime bathing places, and tributary drains leading into the central drain,
exist for each house throughout the lines.
4 . N o c h a n g e h a s b e e n m a d e i n t h e q u a r t e r - g u a r d . T h e f l o o r , b e i n g o n t h e s a m e l e v e l
as the ground outside, and not being covered with lime, was
very damp during the rains.
5 . W i t h r e g a r d t o t h e s c h o o l , I h a v e n o t h i n g t o a d d t o m y f o r m e r r e m a r k s u p o n t h e
subject, except that the experience of the past year has served
only to prove still further the utter unsuitability of the build
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ing to the purpose for which it is intended.
6 . T h e c o n s e r v a n c y o f t h e l i n e s h a s b e e n a s w e l l m a i n t a i n e d d u r i n g t h e y e a r a s t h e
above-mentioned defects in the drainage admit of. The latrine
has been kept in an excellent sanitary condition, being flushed
with water several times daily.
7. Occasionally the supply of water has been suspended for a few hours, but with this
exception it has been good and ample. I would, however, beg
to repeat my suggestions of last year, especially with respect
to a trough to catch the drippings from the tanks; the want of this keeps the ground in
front of the tanks in a muddy and objectionable condition. The prices of food in Bombay
have remained much the same since last report, except during the month of November, when,
in consequence of the influx of visitors, there was a temporary rise in the market rates. As
usual in a Native regiment, a large number of men seen at hospital have had their ailments
aggravated, if not in many cases induced, by insufficient diet; this is perhaps more notice
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able in Bombay than in up-country stations, as, the duty being harder, a weakly man has
recourse to the sick list sooner than he would up-country.
8. I cannot, however, say that any of the sickness in the regiment could fairly be traced
to the duties performed, except perhaps a few cases of febri
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cula and ague of an irregular type among the several com
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panies on their return from Bandora, where they had gone through their annual course of ball
practice. The average number of consecutive nights in bed has been 4.
9. In the month of July the ground of the two lock-up rooms at the back of the
quarter-guard, then occupied by two prisoners, was very damp,
and the rooms were, in my opinion, unfit for human habitation
during the rainy season. I recommended the selection of some more suitable building for the
confinement of prisoners at that time. I was informed, however, that no other place was
available; but, in order to diminish the risk to the men's health, cots were supplied, thus
avoiding the necessity of sleeping on the ground. It is satisfactory to be able to record that
the health of the men in question did not suffer.
Climate.
Lines.
Ventilation and Drainage.
Quarter-guard.
School.
Conservancy and Sanitary Ar
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rangements.
Water and Food.
Duties and their Effect on Health.
Lock-up Rooms and Cells.