Diseases of
importance.
Explanation of
the increase of
sickness at
Perak in
January.
Sepoys used
water from
wells.
APPENDIX—MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE MALAY EXPEDITION.
269
and, however lightly they were clad, their clothes were on the march generally soaked with
perspiration. The leeches, of which we had heard a great deal, were not very troublesome,
except in the jungle on the banks of the rivers. The food resources of the country are but
limited. Cattle are seldom seen except near the European settlements. They are all imported,
and are chiefly used by the Kling (Madrassee) settlers for draught purposes. Buffaloes are in
considerable numbers, and are killed for beef for the European troops; but they are expensive,
and the meat is hard and indigestible. Goats are scarce, and sheep do not exist. Poultry is
tolerably plentiful. Rice is the only grain cultivated, and with fish and fruit forms the food of
the Malays. The Chinese live chiefly upon rice, fish and pork; but pigs are only obtainable
near their settlements, as the Malays are all Mahomedans.
26. Free rations were supplied to the men on board-ship according to the scale laid down
in the Transport Regulations, viz.,—
Food resources
of the country
Free rations.
Cooking ration.
N o n - c o o k i n g r a t i o n .
lbs. oz.
oz.
Atta
1 4
Choora (parched rice)
12
Dall
4
Chubena (parched gram)
10
Turmeric
0¼
Ghee
2
O n i o n s
0½
Salt
1
Garlic
0¼
Sugar
6 ½
Chillies
0¼
Tamarind
4
Black pepper
0 1 / 8
Chunam
0 ¼
Ghee
1
Kuth
0 1 / 8
Salt
1
Tobacco
2
Sugar
2
Chunam
0¼
Kuth
0 1 / 8
Tobacco
2
Followers received three-fourths of the above. Non-cooking rations were only issued for two
days—on the outward voyage.
On shore, the rations were on the Abyssinian scale, viz., —
Sepoys.
Followers.
lbs. oz.
lbs. oz.
A t t a
2 0
1 8
Dall
4
4
Ghee
2
1
Salt
0 2 / 3
0 2 / 3
Tobacco
1½
0
Pepper
0 1 / 8
0
Turmeric
0 1 / 8
0
Chillies
0 1 / 8
0
Under the orders of Brigadier-General Ross, C.B., each sepoy was allowed 2 lbs. of goat's
flesh once a week, and half a dram of rum daily.
There was no appearance of scurvy, and all the men who escaped sickness gained flesh
considerably. This was owing to the good quality of the rations, and to there being no
families to share them, as well as to the great abundance of fruit. Had fruit been less easily
procurable, it would probably have been necessary to add to the ration an allowance of
vegetables, vinegar, or lime juice.
27. The only diseases of importance which prevailed amongst the troops were dysentery
and fever. Amongst the people of the country, the most common complaints appear to be
those usually met with in India. Outbreaks of cholera occur occasionally. Small-pox is well
known, but inoculation, I was told, is not practised. Leprosy and several forms of skin
disease are prevalent; chest affections are rare, but bowel complaints are very common.
28. I have alluded to the increase of sickness amongst the sepoys, on the arrival of the
regiment in Perak, in the month of January. This I attribute to the setting in of the hot
season. There had been very little rain for 15 days, and the heat was very trying, while the
night fogs at this time were very dense and penetrating. The escort duty, too, upon which
the men were chiefly employed, involved great exposure. I am aware that the river water was
blamed for the prevalence of the same forms of disease amongst the European troops at that time.
The sepoys, however, did not drink the river water, but dug two bowlees (small wells) for them
-selves in a ravine near the camp, and the water of these was good. The sickness, moreover,
diminished amongst the Europeans when they were less exposed. When the showers returned,
on 25th February, the heat became less, the fogs disappeared, and the health of the troops
improved rapidly.
29. The sick and weakly men were left behind whenever it was possible; and, fortunately,
during the operations in the interior, the number to be carried was comparatively small. It
was so difficult to procure carriage of any kind, that to have conveyed any considerable number
of sick or wounded men would have been most embarrassing.
Doolies of the new pattern were supplied to the force; but, except between Qualla Kangsa
and the coast, where a road was made, they could not be used. In Sungie Gujong 1 tried, at
first, sailors' hammocks slung upon poles taken from the doolies. These I afterwards supple
-mented by stretchers made of two light poles, with crossbars at head and foot, the intervening
space being filled up with interlaced rattans. A few split bamboos bent over these, and covered
with a blanket or water-proof sheet, formed a shelter from sun or rain. Each stretcher was
carried easily by four Chinese coolies.
s2
No appearance
of scurvy.
Disposal of
the sick.
Doolies of hut
little use.