88
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
41st (The Gwalior) Regiment Aatibe Infantry—Lucknow.
Medical Offi-
cers.
Location and
movements.
Meteorology
and climate.
I. Medical Officers.—The following medical officers have been in charge
of this regiment during the
year 1875, viz. :—
Surgeon E. Mulvany,
from 1st to 6th of January.
Surgeon-Major J. Browne,
M.D., from 7th January to
1st March. Surgeon E.
Muivany, from 2nd March
to 14th May. Surgeon H.
P. Yeld, from 15th May to
2nd July. Surgeon-Major
J. Browne, M.D., from 3rd
July to 31st December.
The last named officer has
written the Annual Sanitary
Report.
II. Location and movements .—The regiment has been stationed in Lucknow during the
entire year, but furnished, with one exception, on every alternate week, a guard of an average
strength of 110 men for duty in Fort Muchee Bhawun. The sick from this detachment were
t r e a t e d i n t h e r e g i m e n t a l h e a d - q u a r t e r s ' h o s p i t a l .
Meteorology and climate .—The year was remarkable for the lateness of the setting in and
termination of the rains, and, as might be expected, the hot season was a prolonged and severe
one. The rains commenced on the 24th July, and terminated on the 22nd of September.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily Sick.
1870 . . .
Baxa Doar, December
1863, from Agra . . .
134.3
4.2
4.7
1 8 7 1 . . .
Ditto from Agra . . .
152.2
2.92
5.95
1872 . . .
Ditto from Agra . . .
104.9
1.4
3.6
1873 . . .
Lucknow, May 1873 . . .
116.9
.43
4.43
1874 . . .
D i t t o . . .
105.1
.28
4.09
Av e r a g e . . .
122.88
1.84
4.55
1875 . . .
Lucknow . . .
78.92
.86
4.33
Rain-fall of wet season of 1875 was . . . 42.86 inches.
" " " 1 8 7 4 " . . . 50.23 "
Average rain-fall of wet season in Lucknow is . . . 42.87 "
Lines and
barracks.
Drainage.
Latrines.
On the termination of the rains the wind changed from east to west, and I believe had
an immediate and beneficial influence on the health of the garrison, and brought in early cold
wather.
V. Lines and barracks .—A description of the lines occupied by this regiment was
given in the report for 1873, page 97, and it will now suffice to state that they are situated
on an open site, and are at a distance from the European barracks and the lines of the other
native infantry regiment, as not to be unfavourably influenced by any epidemic disease occurring
in them. The lines are kept very clean, and are in good sanitary condition; the barracks
are in good repair and afford ample accommodation for the men without any overcrowding in
them: trees in front of the barracks planted along the sides of the streets afford a grateful
shade in the hot season; the barracks run from north to south, so that they are exposed to
the prevailing winds, but they are not built in echelon, and on this account it might be consi
-dered that the perflation through them is defective, but the ventilation of the several
barracks is good, and there has been no reason to suppose that any sickness has been caused by
deficient perflation of the prevailing winds.
Drainage .—The drainage of the lines is described as being very fair, and
this was in a great measure owing to the exertions of the commanding officer,
as he had all the old drains kept clean and free from silt, and such new ones
made from time to time as the efficient drainage of the lines demanded.
The latrines are on the "dry-earth" system, and are said to answer well.
Water-supply.
The water-supply is from wells, and is good and abundant.
Diet.
IX. Diet .—The bazar has been kept well supplied with all the different articles of food,
and the prices of them were at a moderate rate; the supply of vegetables has also been good.
A strict supervision is kept up over the bazar and supplies in it, and I have only had on one
occasion to report to the commanding officer that the atta was considered to be of inferior
quality.
The men in the regiment feed as they like, and I believe that no sepoy, so far as the com
-manding officer can prevent it, is allowed to stint himself as to the quantity or quality of his
food. There is but one Mahomedan company in the regiment, and it is worthy of note that
the sepoys in it have maintained a higher standard of health than,that of any other company.
This is most probably due to the fact that the Mahomedans eat meat, and make use of a more
varied dietary than that of the Hindoos.
The Hindoos, as a rule, only consume atta, dhal, ghee, vegetables and milk, and in
varying proportions, as some of the castes take a full ration of these articles, while others, such as