Hospital
latrine.
14
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
A large latrine, to accommodate 32 men, on the dry-earth system, is now in use. It is a
pucka building with tiled roof, situated to the east of cantonments. The plan of the latrine
is, in my opinion, defective; the seats are a great deal too high, and the gumlahs in use much too
large. The inconvenience both to the men and to the sweepers being very considerably
greater than if the seats had been made only a few inches high, and the gumlahs proportion-
ately small. The ventilation is not bad, but there is room for improvement in this respect.
The latrine was constructed years ago, but was for the first time brought into use when this
regiment came here. The soil is removed to the municipal pits, and disposed of like that
of the city. There appears to be some difficulty in getting ground near cantonments for the
purpose of disposing of the soil ; but the present arrangement is working very satisfactorily
indeed, and a change is not desirable. The establishment consists of four mehters; two bullocks
and a cart are kept for removing the soil.
The hospital latrine, which was in a very filthy condition on the arrival of the troops
here in January last, is now worked on the dry-earth system also, the excreta being
removed with that from the large latrine. The system is a great improvement on the old
one, when the excreta were washed into the river. Only one mehter is employed at the
hospital latrine ; a second is much wanted at times.
Water-supply.
D i e t .
Clothing.
Duty and
employment.
Exercise and
amusements.
Marches, &c.
Water-supply .—Water is brought daily from the river mid-stream by boat, one being
entertained for the purpose constantly. The supply is ample, but the quality very indifferent.
In the rains, the river water is very muddy, and impregnated with much organic matter, as
well as with the sewage of the town. In the dry season, the water is clearer, but it is a question
whether it is at all purer than during the rains, as the river is low and tidal, and the sewage
matter of the city is carried backwards and forwards past cantonments. The Dolye Khul
is another source of contamination, as it carries with it into the river the filth of a very large
portion of the city. Of late years the conservancy of the city has been improved greatly, and
continues to improve, with the result, I have no doubt, of a proportionate improvement in the
quality of the drinking water. An attempt should now be made to have cantonments sup--
plied from the city water-works which are shortly to be completed. The result, I have not the
smallest doubt, would be a marked reduction in the number of admissions from bowel com-
-
plaints and dyspepsia, as well as cholera. An attempt was made to introduce filters, but
what with the prejudices of the men to contend with, and the expense they would be put to
in procuring the filters, the project was abandoned. There are three pucka wells near the hos- -
pital, surrounded at the top by a rim of brick-work to prevent impurities from entering them.
Each well is 31 feet deep, and 2 1/6 feet in diameter. The water of these wells is not good,
and the men prefer that from the river ; consequently it is never used, except for cleaning pur--
poses. The wells were cleaned out, but without any improvement in the water. The cause
of the failure of these wells is quite unaccountable : the water possesses a stagnant, brackish
taste, and if used long for bathing, it causes considerable irritation and itching of the skin.
The impure water-supply is, I believe, a great source of sickness, and is chiefly instrumental
in the production of bowel complaints and dyspepsia, and I would be very suspicious of it as
being the cause of the great majority of cholera outbreaks, although it is impossible to connect
the two. The sick in hospital occasionally complain of the water, and I believe in more than
one instance it has been instrumental in aggravating disease.
IX. Diet.—The men diet themselves, and receive their supplies from the regimental
bazar. It is made compulsory on every man to spend at least half of his pay on diet, and
the Commanding Officer is very careful that this order is obeyed. The bunnea’s account books
are examined monthly, and the amount spent by each man ascertained, before he receives his pay
or allowance for dearness of provisions. The regimental bazar is kept clean, and contains
a good supply of everything required by the men. The men live well, and not a single
instance of under-feeding has come under my notice. Provisions are dear at Dacca, and the
men receive compensation in proportion, the average being Rs. 2-12-7 per month.
X. Clothing.—The clothing is suited to the climate, and is of the usual size and pattern.
In the summer, white drill tunics, knickerbockers and gaiters are worn, and in the winter red
serge tunics, blue serge knickerbrockers and white gaiters. The head dress consists of a heavy
yellow puggarie. The ordinary heavy ammunition boots are worn, fastened with a buckle.
Bedding and undress are sufficient. Gaiters are not worn on ordinary occasions.
XI. Duty and employment.—The duty during the year has been very light indeed ; at
Dacca there is very little for the troops to do beyond the ordinary morning and evening
parades, and a small amount of guard duty. The climate is so damp and relaxing in the hot
season, that the men are unable for much duty. In the cold weather, the musketry course was
gone through.
XII. Exercise and amusements.—The men have plenty of leisure for amusements, but
somehow they appear disinclined for exercise. The only exercise they practise is wrestling,
and that very seldom indeed : a gymnasium is much wanted, as there is nothing of the sort in
the station. The men spend most of their time about the barracks doing nothing.
Marches and service.—No marches were made. No service to record during the year.
Hospital.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital has been described in former reports of other regiments.
It is a large pucca two-storied building, situated close to the river, south of the barracks,
facing the south. The ground floor is divided into two rooms of unequal size by a wall.
These rooms communicate by doors, and form one large ward. The floor is asphalted, dry,
and well raised. There is a small room at the east end of this ward for the treatment of
infectious cases, and another at the west end, occupied by the dooly-bearers. The first floor