109
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
REMARKS BY DEPUTY SURGEON-GENERAL D. WYLLIE, M.D.
Surroundings sanitarily are very unsatisfactory, and although great efforts have been
made, and not without material success, since arrival of the regiment, to remedy defects of
site and improve the condition of the lines, &c., still the natural disadvantages of the locality
are such as to defeat effectual drainage, partly from hollowness of ground, but mainly owing
to beds of clay and marl lying close to the surface. The lines are exceptional in not being
back to back, huts 700 feet each of cubage, ventilation defective, and drainage bad, water
-supply indifferent at best, food comparatively dear, duties heavier than average, temporary
covered latrines during the rains, at other times ordinary trenches. The hospital was inspected
13th December. Establishment and equipment complete, but its accommodation, generally
insufficient in autumn, should be extended, and a dead-house provided. A seperate conta
-gious ward has just been completed, but the plan differs from others in this circle, and is less.
satisfactory. Vaccination was attended to. Dr. Hojel's report is careful and precise. He
mentions that his experience with cinchonidine in ague has not been such as "to enhance
the reputation of the drug as a febrifuge", but that the subcutaneous injection of quinine was
tried in many obstinate cases, and always with success. The very malarious characteer of
Mehidpur cantonment is indubitably established by ample observation; and, having regrad
to the fact that malarial poisoning contracted there has proved a fruitful source of inefficiency,
eventuating in invaliding, I fully concur with Dr. Hojel that, on public grounds, the tour of
duty at that station should not exceed 2 years.
H. M.'s Right Wing 10th Regiment N. L. I.
AGAR.—IN medical charge of Surgeon R. CALDECOTT; Strength, 223.3.
1. The Right Wing, 10th N. L. I., arrived at Agar by companies, relieving the compa
-nies of the Left Wing, which proceeded to Mehidpur. During
the rest of the year they have occupied their present quarters.
The medical charge of the wing was held until 27th March by
Surgeon Keegan, and during the remainder of the year by Surgeon Caldecott.
2. The water-supply is ample, and the quality good. Natural drainage exists through
-out cantonment, and is as good as can be. The climate of Agar
is a very good one. The hot weather of 1875 was a very mild
one, and the evenings and nights were cool throughout. The
maximum temperature in the hospital verandah was 106º; this was reached on the 18th
and on the 20th May. The rains set in about the second week in June, and terminated in
the last week of September. 49 inches and 68 cents were registered. This is 4 inches
and 60 cents in excess of last year's rain, which again was considerably above the average
The month after the rains, generally hot and muggy, was exceptionally cool and pleasant
during 1875.
3. The huts are built in rows, and are placed back to back in each row; there is a
good space of about 30 yards between each row. The capa
-city of each hut is 744 cubic feet of space, and it contains 78
square feet of superficial area. The ventilation is, as pointed out by Surgeon Keegan, by
means of the small door in front. The huts have had new roofs put to them, and with the
exception of the want of ventilation are all that can be desired. The surface drainage in
the lines is excellent. The lines are built on a good slope on red soil (cellular iron clay),
off which water runs very quickly. A new quarter-guard has just been completed, and is
now occupied instead of the old one, which has long been condemned. It is a good build
-ing roofed with corrugated iron; it measures 36 feet in length and 16 feet in width. Its
height from the floor to the ceiling is 19 feet. It has a good verandah, also roofed with
corrugated iron. The bazaar is situated to the south of the lines, from which it is about
300 yards distant. It is kept clean, and is well supplied.
4. Conservancy is well carried out throughout camp. The latrines are permanent
ones, are kept very clean, and work well. There is a house for
the sweepers, who are, therefore, always at hand. The filth is
removed in iron receptacles, and conveyed outside camp limits
and buried, and the ground afterwards cultivated. The only objection to the latrines is
their great distance (430 yards) from the lines. This distance is much too great, and must
be a source of great discomfort to the men and their families, especially in the rainy season
There is no rank vegetation anywhere about cantonments. Every place within camp limits
B 66—B
Location and Movement of
Corps.
Topography and Physical Geo
-graphy.
Li nes.
Conservancy and Sanitary Ar
-rangements.