of the regiment, consisting of a wing, with two European officers, proceeded to Umballa on the
1st November, and have been encamped there up to the 31st December.
Meteorology. IV. Meteorology. —The hot season was considered comparatively mild, and the rains,
although late in coming, were unusually heavy and prolonged.
V. Lines and barracks.—These lines have been very fully described in former reports, and
no changes have taken place during the year. They are the best native lines I have seen in
India. The streets are broad, and the huts commodious, well-built, and sufficiently shaded by
trees; the water-supply is ample and good; the wide, open plain extending southwards, north
- w a r d s , a n d w e s t w a r d s p r o m o t e s f r e e p e r f l a t i o n o f a i r ; a n d a l t o g e t h e r t h e s e l i n e s h a v e t h e
appearance of much comfort, while they are at the same time invariably kept scrupulously neat
and clean and in excellent sanitary condition.
Lines and bar
-racks.
Duty and
employment.
Exercise.
102
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Drainage.
Conservancy.
VI. Drainage.—The drainage, as usual in native lines, is effected by surface drains, and no
change has taken place in the system since Dr. Perkin's last report. It appears to have worked
satisfactorily during the year in the lines; no water having at any time lodged in the streets,
although beyond the lines the open ground to the east, which is low and has no drainage
o u t l e t , w a s i n a s w a m p y s t a t e d u r i n g t h e r a i n s .
VII. Conservancy and latrines. —The conservancy arrangements are reported to have
worked well during the year. The regimental latrines are those described by Dr. Perkins, and
seem to be exclusively used by the men, as much, perhaps, that they are suitable, as because there
is little cover in the neighbouring fields, except at an inconvenient distance. The quarter-master
informs me that the iron urinals mentioned by Dr. Perkins in his report for the year 1873, are
still in use, and are found to save the ground in the lines from pollution of this kind.
Water-supply.
Diet.
Clothing.
VII. Water-supply.—The supply of water continues as before — abundant and good.
IX. Diet.—Supplies of all the staple articles of food have been abundant. No complaints
have been made regarding its quality. All articles of food are, I understand, inspected by a
bazar committee, consisting of native officers, who, I suppose, will readily condemn articles of
inferior quality. There is nothing in the hospital records to show that the men have underfed
themselves; moreover, from what I have seen of the men, I believe that the practice, if it exist
at all, must be rare in this regiment.
X. Clothing.— R e m a i n s
a s b e f o r e . I l a t e l y i n s p e c t e d t h e m e n i n u n d r e s s f o r t h e p u r p o s e
of ascertaining to what extent vaccination had been completed in the regiment, and I then
noticed that every man was provided with a good quilted coat. No man, so far as I have seen,
has presented himself at hospital unprovided with a rezai.
XI . Dut y a nd e mpl oyme nt .—T h e nights in bed have varied from 2 to 6, the average for the
year being 4. 37. There is no evidence to show that the men have been at all
overworked during
the year; on the contrary, they are on the whole looking extremely well now, and for the past
two months there has been very little sickness of any kind in the regiment.
XII. Exercise.—The men are very fond of gymnastic exercises, and seem to have derived
much benefit from them.
Marches and
service.
Water-supply
in camp.
Conservancy
in camp.
Detachment.
Food supplies.
Hospital.
XIII. Marches and service. —The regiment has remained at Meerut throughout the year,
except during the month of March, when it formed part of the force stationed at Delhi on duty
in connection with the visit of the Governor General. The regiment, on this occasion was
encamped on cultivated land immediately beyond the "Ridge"; in fact, on the ground formerly
occupied by the old Native Infantry lines before the "mutiny."
Water-supply in camp.—The supply of drinking water was here obtained from masonry wells,
in certain of which the water was pronounced to be good; while for ablution of the person and
clothing, a canal running close by the camp was found to be very convenient.
Conservancy in camp. —Screen latrines on the trench system were erected for the reg
i - m e n t a t a c o n v e n i e n t d i s t a n c e f r o m t h e c a m p , a n d a l t h o u g h a t f i r s t s o m e l i t t l e d i f f i c u l t y w a s
experienced in getting the men to use these latrines, as they preferred the open fields, eventually
the sanitary arrangements of the camp were got to work very smoothly and satisfactorily.
Detachment.—The left wing of the regiment marched on the 1st November for Umballa,
where it arrived on the 13th November. This detachment has remained at Umballa up to the close
of the year, and has been encamped "on a healthy site somewhat to the west of the Native
Cavalry lines."
Food supplies.—The supplies of food have also been good, with the exception of atta, which
was reported by the medical officer as being of inferior quality on one occasion. The bunneahs
having been cautioned, a better quality was obtained.
Hospital.—The sick of the detachment have been treated in the Native Cavalry hospital,
which is reported to afford good accommodation.
Hospital.
XIV. Hospital.—No changes of any importance have been effected in this building durign
the year. It is in good repair. A small ward for isolating cases of serious illness and for the
treatment of eye diseases is certainly much wanted, as the end verandah rooms are too small for
this purpose, and are only useful as store-rooms. On account of the cold in hospital at night,
I was lately under the necessity of treating a case of remittent fever, with congestion of the
lungs, liver, and spleen, in one of the empty out-houses. Water for the use of the hospital was
formerly obtained from a well which is situated within the compound of a house occupied by
a family of Eurasian pensioners. The insanitary state of this place was the subject of a medical
committee during the year, by whom the site was condemned; but further than placing the com
-pound under stricter sanitary surveillance, and procuring the supply of water for the hospital
from one of the regimental wells, no radical change has been effected.