POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
The general health of the corps has been good. The water-supply, both for the lines and
hospital cannot, under the circumstances detailed in the report, be very pure for drinking
purposes, although pronounced so last year by the Analyser, and, therefore, the early
importation of the Kharakwásla water is looked forward to with some anxiety.
H. M.'s Poona Horse.
SIRUR.—In medical charge of Surgeon W. R. GORDON, M.D.; Strength, 308.3.
1 . T h e r e g i m e n t r e m a i n e d s t a t i o n a r y a t S i r u r f r o m J a n u a r y t o t h e 6 t h O c t o b e r , w h e n t h e
head-quarters marched to Bombay, being joined at Tanna by
the squadron from Dhulia. One squadron remained at Sirur,
and subsequently marched to Poona to take part in the Camp
of Exercise. The whole regiment returned to Sirur on the 21st December. A detachmen
t
of 150 men under an European officer was stationed in Khandesh from January to October,
when they wore ordered to Bombay. Outposts were furnished
by this detachment to two important towns on the frontier of
the district.
2. During the past year the lines were re-tiled, and the wood-work where defective
was also renewed. The inside of all houses was scraped and
white-washed, and, as far as accommodation for the men is con
-
cerned, nothing more can be desired. The courtyard behind
each house is still defective, as its floor is now almost on a level with the plinth of the house.
This has been caused by the debris of crumbled-down walls which were erected within the
compounds by former occupants. Each man has his backyard arranged and partitioned off
according to his particular fancy, and as the number and sex of his dependants may require.
The syces' lines are substantial, and kept in thorough repair.
2. The conservancy arrangements are still carried out as previously described. I ex
-
pected to be able to report some desirable improvements, but
the heavy expenditure for the necessary repairs of the lines has
prevented any extra outlay on account of conservancy. The
excreta from the lines has been buried in trenches in the mess garden, where it is utilised for
agricultural purposes. As far as my experience goes, this system of manuring land answers
but very indifferently with the soil about Sirur. Before it can be used at all, the ordure
must be thoroughly decomposed, and mixed with the soil, and as a matter of fact this is
more than a Native will wait for or take the trouble to perform. It is far too rich a manure
when used in any quantity for such light shallow soil as prevails in this district. When the
regiment was stationed in Bombay the conservancy arrangements were very unsatisfactory,
and at first caused great inconvenience to the men. The ground allotted for the camp was
but small and irregular, and it was absolutely necessary to pitch the latrine screens close to a
public road. On this account occasional complaints by the Health Department were unavoid
-
able, although the utmost care was taken to keep the place clean, and have the filth regularly
removed. Native cavalry regiments have to provide all their own camp equipage, except
latrine screens and hospital tents, which are supplied upon indent if available. On arrival at
large stations such as Bombay or Poona, where conservancy rules have to he rigorously en
-
forced, it would be a boon to the men to find some place ready to which they might resort
for purposes of nature, and this I think ought to be arranged by the Health Department.
Let it be remembered that with cavalry regiments, under the present system, there is no re-
gular quarter-master, and that the officer on whom the duty devolves, is never supposed to
precede the regiment. Screens and other necessaries may have been indented for, and every-
thing supplied by the department concerned ; still a spot has to be selected, the screens pitched,
and trenches dug, which must necessarily entail a delay of some two or three hours, as both.
men and syces have quite enough to do, to look after their horses and equipments on arrival
from a long march.
3 . T h e w a t e r - s u p p l y f o r t h e u s e o f t h e r e g i m e n t a s w e l l a s f o r t h e w h o l e v i l l a g e i s
obtained from the River Goreh. The supply is constant and of
very fair quality, except during the rains, when it has to be
filtered, to free it from suspended impurities. Lately there
has been some correspondence about growing melons in the bed of the river, and I trust
that, before the hot season sets in, the custom may be prohibited.
3. Generally speaking, food, during the past year, was abundant and cheap, but it
would be advantageous if the gardeners in the vicinity could
be induced to grow vegetables in greater abundance and of
better quality.
B
6 6 —
j
Location and Movement.
Detachments.
Lines.
Conservancy and Sanitary Ar
- rangements.
water-supply.
Food, Quality of, and whether
abundant and cheap.