Topography.
Meteorology
and climate.
Lines and
huts.
Drainage.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Water-supply.
Diet.
Clothing.
Duty and
employment.
Amusements
and exercise.
Marches, &c,
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality a
nd invaliding.
170
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
3rd.—At Cherat, from 2nd September to 23rd December.
The detachments at Fort Mackeson and Abazai were relieved every month during the
winter, and every two months during the hot season.
III. Topography. —A detailed account of the station under this heading will be found
in the medical and sanitary report of the native army in Bengal for 1869, and for the year
1872.
A great flood which happened in the station owing to the rise of the river requires some
notice. On the 29th August, the Swat and Cabul rivers, about 15 miles above the cantonment,
were observed to be swollen, and on the 30th the plain at their junction was under water for
miles. On the 31st the flood having increased in the afternoon, the road to Peshawar had
become impassable from the water in the nullahs which intersect it. On that evening the
greater part of the station north of the trunk road was under water, and the pier to which
the bridge-of-boats was anchored on the station side having given way, the bridge was swept
away and all communication cut off with the opposite bank. The water continuing steadily,
though slowly, to rise, at daylight on the 1st September all the ground between the river and
the trunk roads was under water, and by noon it had reached the opposite side of the road and
the nearest barracks were surrounded by water. At this time the left bank of the river was one
great sheet of water, extending two or three miles inland—the city of Nowshera, which stands
on a rising ground, had become an island, and the inhabitants and their cattle were seen huddled
together and seeking refuge on a small piece of rising ground above the bridge, where they
remained till about 3 P. M., when the flood began to recede. The flood subsided very rapidly.
All the water on the south side of the road had disappeared at daylight on the 2nd September.
Great numbers of cattle were drowned, and produce swept away. When the river subsided,
an alluvial deposit was left, which varied in thickness from 2 to 4 inches. The subsidence of the
river was rapid, but in the hollows between it and the road where the depth was considerable,
quite ten days elapsed before it had entirely disappeared. The stench along the road for the
first two days was intolerable.
IV. Meteorology and climate. —There is no instrument for taking observations except a
common thermometer. There was an earthquake on the 22nd of but not a very
severe one.
V. Lines and huts.—A detailed account of the lines, their situation and the size, and the
construction of the huts, was given in the two previous reports.
VI. Drainage. —The drainage has been as last year by open sewers, which answers the
purpose very efficiently.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.—There has been no change in the conservancy arrange-
ments. The latrines on the south side of the lines for the use of the women has been kept
clean and in good repair. The men who resort to the neighbouring sand-hills, where a place
is marked off for them, go to a sufficient distance and so avoid unpleasant smells.
VIII. Water-supply. —The water-supply has been obtained, as heretofore, from five pucka
wells near the lines, and the water has been abundant and of excellent quality.
IX. Diet.—Food has been good, abundant and cheap; meat, fowls, vegetables and fruit
are all plentiful and easily obtained: no instance of under-feeding has come under my notice,
and the men are well nourished. Rum has been obtained from the Commissariat for the Sikhs
and other spirit drinkers.
X. Clothing.—There has been no change in the clothing. The recruits who have few
warm things are provided with poshteens in which they parade, and the sepoys wear their
great coats night and morning. As a rule, the men are warmly clad, and very few cases
of chest complaint have occurred. On parade the men wear ammunition boots, but on escort
duty usually native shoes. Only a very few cases of men with foot-sores have been under
treatment.
XI. Duty and employment.—The duties have been parades, guards, escorts, &c., besides
the detachments at the various forts. The number of nights in bed was 7.95.
XIII. Amusements and exercise.—The men have their peculiar native games, wrestling,
&c. There is also a gymnasium in the regiment which the recruits have all to pass, which
affords amusements to the men.
XIII. Marches, &c. —With the exception of the marches to and from the different forts,
the regiment was stationary.
XI
V. Hospital.—A full description of the hospital appeared in the last report. Since
then the iron stoves which were in use have been removed and replaced by two fire-places,
o n e f o r e a c h w a r d . T h e s e s t o v e s w e r e o f l i t t l e o r n o u s e f o r h e a t i n g p u r p o s e s , a n d t h e w a r d s
are now much warmer and more comfortable than formerly. The building being new, has been
in thorough repair and in every respect most suitable for the treatment of the sick. The con-
tagious ward was put in thorough repair after the earthquake in December 1875, and the walls
were re-plastered and a new floor laid down.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of regiment:—
Present
600.25
Absent
110.10
Total
710.35