Date of em
-barkation.
Cholera.
Latrines on
board the
steamer.
Cooking-
places.
Length of
passage.
Disembarka
-tion.
APPENDIX.
Medical history of the 1st Goorkha Light Infantry while employed on service in the Malay
Peninsula, from the 26th of November 1875 to the 31st of March 1876.
BY SURGEON-MAJOR C. F. OLDHAM, IN MEDICAL CHARGE OF THE REGIMENT.
1. The regiment, of the strength marginally noted, left Dhurmsala on 30th October
en route for the camp of exercise at Delhi. At Umballa,
on 16th November, orders were received to prepare for
foreign service and to proceed at once by rail to Calcutta.
Steps were immediately taken to weed out sick and
weakly men, and to make up the hospital establishment to
its full strength, a portion having been left behind with
the regimental depôt. The regiment reached Calcutta on 20th November, and was encamped
on the glacis of Fort William
.
2. The men received a free kit. consisting of—
1 Water-proof sheet,
1 Pair ammunition boots,
1 Blanket,
2 Pair woollen socks,
1 Banyan,
1 Pair putties, for the legs,
1 Cholera belt,
1 Water bottle covered with leather.
European officers
10
Native officers
10
Non-commissioned officers and
sepoys
457
TOTAL
477
Strength.
Free kit given
to the men.
All these were most useful, especially the water-proof sheet and the water bottle, which latter
was invaluable. While the socks lasted, there were but few footsore cases.
Surgeon G. Bomford was attached to the regiment for duty.
On 26th November the regiment embarked on board the steamship Malda and on the
next day left the Sandheads for Penang. On board this vessel were Brigadier-General Ross
and Staff, the 1st Goorkhas—477 strong, and 180 commissariat followers.
4. On 29th November, one of the commissariat followers was attacked with cholera, and
died within four hours. On the same day a sepoy was attacked with this disease in a mild
form. Next day one of the crew of the steamer was seized with the same complaint. The
two latter recovered. The usual sanitary precautions were taken. The troop-deck was dry-
scrubbed daily, disinfecting powder sprinkled about, and carbolic acid diluted with water
poured into scuppers, latrines, &c. I had the cholera patients put into the boats, hanging to
the davits, on the lee side of the ship, with awnings over them; and the clothing and bedding
of the man who died were thrown overboard.
5. The latrine accommodation was barely sufficient for the large number of men on board.
At least two latrines for each hundred men should be provided and the greater part of these
should be outside the ship.
6. The cooking-places were so unlike anything the men had ever seen before that, at
first, they had many scruples as to using them. Hunger, however, at. last prevailed, and
they took to the iron cabooses and coal as if they had always been used to them. - They did
not even take the trouble to leep the iron-work of the former. The only formality adopted
was to put up a canvas screen round the cooking-place. About six men cooked for each
company. The accommodation was, however, so limited, that it was with great difficulty that
the whole of the men could have their food cooked during the day. If, when the number of
men is large, non-cooking rations were supplied for one-third or even for one-half the passage,
so as to allow of one-half of the men only cooking each day, it would greatly diminish the
difficulty arising from the limited space available, on board-ships, for cooking-places.
7. On the return voyage the regiment was divided between the Himalayah, Arabia,
and Czarewitch, so that the men had more room; and, as they had become comparatively
old sailors, they gave but little trouble with their cooking arrangements. They, however,
insisted that they could not eat rice without certain formalities, which could not be gone
through on board-ship.
8. After a fine passage of nine days, the Malda arrived at Penang on 4th December.
Beyond the three cases of cholera, no disease occurred on board, but the men suffered severely
from sea-sickness—muscular cramps, and semi-collapse occurring in several cases. On arrival
at Penang, the men were all allowed to go on shore, where they cooked and ate in comfort,
and procured large quantities of fruit. Next day 100 men, under Lieutenant-Colonel Story;
were ordered to proceed to Larut with the force under Brigadier General Ross, C. B. The
remainder of the regiment, with a half-battery of artillery, under Lieutenant-Colonel Clay;
sailed in the Malda for Malacca, which was said to be threatened by the Malays. With Medical officer
attached.
Sanitary
precautions
taken.
The return
voyage.