Duty and em-
ployment.
Amusements.
145
LAHORE DIVISION.
is supposed to be nitrate of potash. Examination of some earth covered with the above-
mentioned incrustation gave the following results:—
Salts soluble in water
—8.3 per cent. of air-
dried mud.
Chlorine—consider-
able amount.
Nitric acid—mode
rately large amount ;
slight traces of nitrous
acid.
Other salts were also present, but the want of re-agents and apparatus prevented me from
making a complete quantitative analysis. It would be interesting to examine the well waters
of the district shortly after a heavy fall of rain.
IX. Diet.—The regimental bazaar has been well supplied with articles of diet of a good
quality, and I have been informed that, as a rule, vegetables have been easily procurable.
During a period of three years, nine cases of scurvy are recorded as having been treated in
hospital, viz., in 1873, one ; 1874, six ; and last year, two.
A sowar under six years' service receives Rs. 28 a month, after ten years, 29, and after
fifteen years, Rs. 30. The bazaar has been weekly inspected by the medical officer, and all
articles of diet carefully examined. I have been with the regiment about three months,
and I have not seen any case of disease which could be attributed to the practice of under-feeding.
Diet.
X. Clothing.—The same as in previous reports.
Clothing.
XI. Duty and employment.— Have been as usual in cavalry regiments. The nights in bed
averaged 6 to 7.
XII. Amusements.— Once a fortnight the station residents are invited to witness the
performance of the men at tent-pegging, jumping, &c. The men appear to take great
interest in these sports.
XIII. Marches.—None have been made during the year.
Marches.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital was described by Dr. Watson in his report for 1871.
In November, it was necessary to pitch a tent to accommodate the fever cases : 84 were
treated during the month. In the winter months the hospital is very cold, and the quantity
of fuel supplied by the Commissariat Department is hardly sufficient to warm it thoroughly.
To economize fuel as much as possible, orders have been given to light the fires only in the early
morning and after sunset. With all the doors closed and one fire burning, I found the
temperature of the ward 56.2° Fah., while the thermometer in the verandah registered 54°.
The want of accommodation for the native hospital staff has been noticed in every' annual
report for the last three years, but without any result. The native doctor lives in the hospital
cook-house. and his assistant is lodged in the lines.
Hospital.
The cook-house being occupied, patients are obliged to cook their food in the lines, and
thus a great deal of unnecessary intercourse takes place between the men under treatment and the
rest of the regiment. I have tried to make the men understand that, as long as their names
are borne on the hospital books, they have nothing to do with the rest of the regiment. But in
a cavalry corps this system cannot be strictly enforced, because a sowar, unless he is seriously ill,
is obliged to attend to his horse.
The only men who shirk their work are those who have nearly served the time which
they imagine entitles them to a pension. Such men when admitted into hospital do their best
to remain in it as long as possible. Their symptoms are, as a rule, subjective ; and the medical
officer, although he may be convinced that they are healthy, is still unable to certify to that
fact.
Cook-house.
The men who are "working up for pensions" are known both to the officers and to the
men. These malingerers are utterly useless to the service, and when brought before invaliding
committees, are not passed, for the simple reason that no appreciable disease can be detected ;
they are consequently returned to their regiment as " fit for further service." I believe that
this system of malingering would be checked if " hospital stoppages" could be enforced on the
recommendation of the medical officer.
Malingerers.
XV: Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment—
Present
.
.
. 372.11
Absent
.
.
.
83.95
Total . . . 456.06
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
M 1