MEERUT DIVISION.
101
only six cases of ague in the whole year. Detachment on the march, and while on duty at
Delhi, gave a fractional proportion only. Life in tents during the healthier season of the year,
general exercise, and more constant discipline protect the sepoy against disease even better
than the shelter of huts and the mild routine of cantonment duties. The admissions next
in number are from blister of the feet. The companies at Roorkee give 130 cases ; on
the march 39 ; Peshawar and Cherat 18; Rawal Pindi 13; total 200. It is to be
observed that the 3rd company had only one admission during seven months' detached duty
at Cherat, though there would be the same duties and extra hours there as elsewhere. It is
presumed that the Hindustani shoe was almost entirely worn. On the other hand, the pro-
portion of admissions at Roorkee is extremely high, and the conclusion can scarcely be avoided
that this was caused by the more frequent and prolonged use of the regulation half-boot.
Some allowance may be made for the low condition of health in which those three companies,
the 4th, 8th and 9th, who had been 3 years in the Punjab, were in on their return to Roorkee ; in
them the least irritation, even a common blister, produced a very troublesome sore; and perhaps
detached companies get a good deal out of the customary wear of boots, and their feet are apt
to gall quickly ; but after admitting these explanations, the broad fact remains that a very large
proportion of non-effective native soldiers results from a defect of equipment, and some decided
improvement in the boot seems urgently called for to make the sepoy reliable either for extra
work in garrison life or on active service.
XVII. Pri nci pal causes of mort al i t y.— T h e r e
h a v e b e e n a l t o g e t h e r 1 7 d e a t h s i n t h e
regiment in 1876. Of these, only 7 occurred in the various hospitals, viz., 2 from general
debility and 1 from hemiplegia in the depôt and regimental hospital at Roorkee ; 1 of ague and
1 of cholera at Peshawar ; 1 of jaundice on the march to Rawal Pindi; and 1 of pleurisy in
hospital there. I have received no particulars of these cases ; only one of them came under my
personal observation.
Principal causes of
mortality.
Of the deaths which occurred out of hospital, two of them resulted from the explosion of
the Torpedo boat on the Hooghly ; 5 were of men who had been granted sick leave to their
homes, affording another year's unsatisfactory experience of the system. I find very few cases in
Which change of air and rejoining their families gives a reasonable hope of bettering a sick
sepoy. As a rule, they are placed under less favorable conditions for recovery in their villages
than in a regimental hospital. I am always particular, before recommending sick leave, to
enquire if the applicant' s circumstances are tolerably flourishing ; if he can be sure of com--
fortable lodging, good attendance, and sufficiently wholesome food. Without these things, it is
scarcely reasonable to expect that change of air alone will be of benefit. No particulars have
been obtained as to the deaths of the remaining 3 men ; they occurred on detached command
at Calcutta and Cawnpore.
XVIII. Epidemics.—The 2nd company at Peshawar suffered in common with the gar-
rison generally, and was in camp for nearly a month. There were 3 admissions from
cholera ; 1 proved fatal and 2 recovered and were granted sick leave.
Inspection.—Inspected by the Deputy Surgeon-General, Meerut Circle, on
the 19th October 1876. Mr. Smith does not report any change worthy of re--
mark as having occurred in connection with the lines or their drainage, but there
was no overcrowding, and the ventilation of the huts was well maintained.
Early in 1876 it is reported that the limit of the cantonment boundary to
the south was extended, and thus afforded room for the establishment of a
regimental latrine which is now carried out on the trench system. A great
improvement also has been effected in the re-construction of the urinals ; for--
merly the urine ran from them into blind wells, but now it is received into
g u r - r a h s , t h e c o n t e n t s o f w h i c h a r e e m p t i e d a n d r e m o v e d i n a l i g h t i r o n t u b o n
wheels outside the cantonment boundary. The hospital, though only a tempo--
rary erection, is stated to have been kept in good repair, and it is also reported
"that nothing can exceed the cleanliness and neatness of its internal arrange--
ments." All the arrangements in the hospital, whether for the comfort or
proper treatment of the sick, were complete and well attended to.
Explosion of
Torpedo boat
on the
Hooghly.
Epidemics.
Inspection.
A