VIII. Water-supply.—As in 1874 and previously.
Water-supplv.
119
MEERUT DIVISION.
into more or less deep cuttings. There is always a good deal of sun-evaporation when silt or
badly-constructed culverts choke the out-fall. These defects are remedied as much as pos
-
sible by yearly working parties, which clear the levels and facilitate surface out-flow. There is
still a want of more raised foot-paths, to enable men to pass from place to place during the
rains without wetting their feet.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.—The conservancy arrangements have not been altered
in any way since 1875. The majority of the sepoys and adult followers go afield, and there
is no system for disposal of the ordure beyond a cantonment rule, that the latter should
provide themselves with a small hand spade to cover it. Practically it remains in the adjoin
-
ing nullahs till washed away. There is a small public latrine near the bazaar for the sick, the
infirm, women and children. During the rainy season this becomes a nuisance; being open,
the dry earth, when used, does not deodorize, and it has been found necessary to close the
latrine. The boundary of cantonments is about to be extended 200 yards further south, and
I hope that better arrangements, both as regards this latrine and the general conservancy of
cantonments, will then be improved, by removing the former to the outer limits of the station,
and by fixing certain sites in rotation to which all natives should be obliged to visit for purposes
of nature, and which can be inspected and the ordure buried and cultivated.
Nothing has been done to correct what I consider a grave error of sanitation, in the con
-
struction of temporary urinals for the Native soldiers of the Sappers and Miners. In my
report for 1874, I gave plans which showed the surface tanks, drain and blind well, 8
feet deep; the latter filled with rubble and covered with earth. It is certain that this
system will ultimately end in affecting the purity of the water-supply. I have lately
written on the subject, and recommended that the wells should be opened out, the contents
removed, and fresh earth deposited. But even this is only a palliation. The urine should
not be allowed to drain off into the earth, but should be collected and removed in gurrahs
daily outside cantonment limits. There appears to be a difficulty in providing suitable
conservancy carriage in Native corps.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Urinals for
the Native
soldiers.
Diet, clothing, exercise duty.— As in 1874 and previously. The average number of nights
in bed has remained very much the same as formerly, viz., 1 in 4 or 5 for non-commissioned
officers, and 1 in 8 or 10 for sepoys. In detached commands the proportion for duty is somewhat
heavier.
XIII. Marches and service.—There has been none of any importance in 1875. The
detachment of 62 men which went on the Duffla Expedition at the close of 1874 (October)
returned to Roorkee in March. The head-quarters and six companies marched from Roorkee to
Delhi to join the Camp of Exercise in November, and remained there till the close of the year.
X I V . H o s p i t a l . —
T h e
change in the location of the sick of the regiment mentioned i
n
my last annual report has now been carried out. It will be remembered that I wrote of the un
-
suitability of site of the native hospital, placed as it was in the heart of the European barracks
and adjoining the married barracks; hence a danger of communicating infectious disease.
Early in February 1875, a considerable draft of Royal Engineers, with their wives and
children, arrived from England, and the native hospital was taken up for their immediate accom
-
modation. At first the native sick were placed in tents, but by the end of April a new hospital
of temporary construction had been built on an open site adjoining the parade. It comprises
a central ward divided by a partition wall, and holding thirty beds, two long verandahs, east
and west, four corner rooms, viz., office, dispensary, bath-room, and isolation room, with the
usual servants' quarters and out-offices. The roof is of thatch, the floor beaten clay, batten
doors, and glazed windows in each ward. There is plenty of superficial and cubic space for
the ordinary number of sick, but in the event of epidemic disease, additional room would have
to be provided in tents.
The hospital out-offices comprise two quarters for hospital assistants, very poor and in
-
sufficient, seven servants' houses, a cook-room, most limited in space, having regard to the average
number of sick, which is separated by partition for Hindoos and Mahomedans, a dead-house
and a privy. The dead-house is so small that the regulation dissecting table cannot be got
through the door; there is no glazed window, nor any fastening
to the door. The ventilation is by fenestrated sun-dried bricks
of this pattern, and the floor is of beaten earth only without any
drain. The executive engineer considers that a native hospital
dead-house is a receptacle for the dead, and that post mortem examinations are not to be pro
-
vided for. I am in correspondence on the subject, and hope to get the defects remedied.
Manifestly, no post, mortem can be held until they are; and even as a receptacle for the dead,
there is every facility for the entry of rats, mongooses or even jackals and dogs at night.
Quarters of medical pupils are also urgently required. It is quite unreasonable to suppose
that respectable youths will be attracted to the service unless some attention to their comfort
is paid. These lads fresh from home feel very much the want of privacy and retirement; and
I have no doubt many who now resign after a short trial of the profession would remain con
-
tented and happy if suitable quarters were invariably provided for them on first posting them
to regiments.
Diet, clothing
&c.
Marches and
service.
Hospital.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding .—Strength of the regiment—
Present . . . 1028.83
Absent . . . 110.91
Total . . . 1139.74
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.