LAHORE DIVISION
125
the pattern usually worn by natives were used by the men; and during the
march from Meean Meer to Umballa there were only nine cases of blisters of
the feet. No boots of English pattern were in use. The condition of the hos
-pital (with the exception that the ventilation underneath the charpoys was
interfered with by the arches between the ward and verandah being built up
for some distance from the ground) was satisfactory; and it was sufficiently
supplied with medicines, instruments, and the necessary comforts for the
proper care of the sick.
26th (Punjab) Regiment, Native Infantry—Meean Meer.
I. Medical Officers. —Medical charge of the regiment throughout the year
has been held by the follow
-ing Officers: Surgeon-Major
A. R. Waghorn, from 1st to
26th January; Surgeon F.
C. Ghose, from 26th January
to 29th February; Surgeon-
Major H. Cookson, from
29th February to 31st May;
Surgeon D. P. Macdonald,
from 1st June to 18th De
-cember; Surgeon-Major G.
A. Watson, from 18th to
31st December. The medical
charge of the detachment at
Umritsar was held by Surgeon R. Smith of the Army Medical Department.
The annual sanitary report has been compiled and submitted by Surgeon P. J.
Freyer, M. D., Bengal Medical Service.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1871
Umballa, June 1869, from
Mehidpur and Agar.
137.2
1.8
5.3
1872
Peshawar, Nov. 1871
225.8
2.2
3.4
1873
Ditto ditto
186
3.1
2.7
1874
Meean Meer, Nov. 1874 212.2
1.8
3.8
1875
Ditto ditto
220.28
3.29
5.10
Average
196.29 2.43
4.06
1876
Meean Meer
225.78
1.29
5.33
Medical
Officers.
II. Location and movements. —From the 1st to 26th January the regiment was at
the Delhi camp of exercise. On the 27th January it commenced its march to Meean Meer,
and arrived there on the 28th February, having marched viâ Umballa, Ludhiana, &c. During
the remainder of the year the head-quarters of the regiment have been at Meean Meer; detach
-ments, have been furnished to Amritsar and Fort Lahore.
Location and
movements.
III. Topography and physical geography. —These have been sufficiently described in
previous reports, so that only recent changes shall be here indicated. A watercourse has
recently been made, extending from the main canal of the station into the lines. From
this, water is raised by means of a Persian wheel, and allowed to flow, through small channels,
to various parts of the lines and officers' compounds; and thus a sufficient supply of
water is always at hand for cultivation purposes. The sepoys are encouraged to plant
rose trees round their huts; and during the year a considerable number have been planted.
One hundred rupees were granted for the purpose of planting young trees in the neighbour-
hood of the latrines. These seem to be progressing favorably, and will, no doubt, in time
exercise a favorable influence on the health of the station.
Topograpy
and physical
geography.
IV. Meteorology and climate. —There are no records either of temperature or rainfall
available in the station.
Meteorology,
&c.
V. Lines and huts.—These have been generally described in previous reports. The huts
are very bad, but are kept in fair repair. They are badly ventilated and exceedingly hot in
the summer season, there being no trees to protect them from the direct rays of the sun. There
has been, however, no overcrowding, as a large detachment, averaging 232 men, has been absent
at Amritsar ever since the arrival of the head-quarters from the Delhi camp of exercise.
Lines and
huts.
VI. Drainage. —No improvements have been made in the drainage of the lines during the
year. I believe it is extremely defective in the rains. This is due to the low position of Meean
Meer, the engineers finding it difficult to effect a flow of the water away from the station.
Drainage.
VII. Conservancy and latrines. —The dry-earth system is the one adopted, the excreta
being removed daily in carts and deposited in pits situated at a considerable distance from the
lines. This system is found to work well.
Conservancy
and latrines.
VIII.
Water-supply.—This is supplied partly from wells and partly from the aqueduct that
has been newly introduced from the canal to the lines. I am not aware of any analysis of the
water from either having been made, and so cannot speak with authority as to their merits. The
general impression, however, is, that the water from the canal is the better, and it is used for
drinking purposes, exclusively by the Officers, and to a very considerable extent by the sepoys.
Water-supply.
IX. Diet.—Provisions are supplied from the regimental bazar, of good quality, and at
moderate prices. The bazar is clean and well kept, and inspections are regularly made both by
the medical officer and quartermaster. The men are. strong and well fed; no cases of under
-feeding have come under observation during the year.
Diet.
G l
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