Drainage.
Latrines .
13
PRESIDENCY DISTRICT.
Water for drinking and cooking purposes can be obtained from a pump
supplied by the municipal filtered water, but owing to its distance from the
lines, and to its not being available for the native troops until 3 o' clock P. M .,
it is believed that some of the men do not use it, but draw their water-supply
from tanks. The "trench system" of latrine with movable screens is in
use, and is reported on as working well, and as free from any offensive smell.
Hospital accommodation and the ventilation of the building were good,
and all arrangements for the proper treatment of the sick were satisfactory.
Water-supply.
Conservancy,
&c.
Hospital.
4th Regiment, Aatibe Infantry—Bhagalpur.
Z.—Medical Officers.—
Surgeon A. J. Wall, M. B.,
was in medical charge of the
regiment from 1st of Janu
-ary to the 10th of February,
and Surgeon E. Palmer
from this latter date to the
end of the year. Surgeon
-Major N. B. Baillie had
charge of the regiment
during Surgeon E. Palmer's
absence on privilege leave.
Surgeon E. Palmer has
submitted the annual sa
- n i t a r y r e p o r t .
II. Location and movements .—The head-quarters of the regiment remained at Bhagalpur
during the year. Owing to disturbances in
Sonthalia, the right wing of the regiment
with two European officers marched from this on the 2nd of April and was quartered at Nya
Doomka till the 7th of December, when it was relieved by the left wino. A detachment of 176
men with one European officer marched from this to Bankipore on the 20th of December,
arrived there on the 1st of January, remained there for three days, and rejoined head-quarters
on the 17th of January.
III. Topography and physical geography .—The cantonment of Bhagalpur occupies the
site of an old fort about three miles from the centre of the civil station of that name, which
is situated on the right bank of the Ganges. The saying amongst the natives regarding the
fort is that, long before the Mahomedans came to India, there lived a Hindoo prince, named
Koran, who built the fort, and from whom it took the name Koran Gurh, which is its
common denomination. It served in former days as a place of refuge to which the Hindoo
people living in the neighbourhood south of Bhagalpur used to repair when the robber clans
invaded and pillaged the surrounding country.
Year.
Station.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1870 . . . Allahabad December 1867
from Jhansi.
211.2
3.2
4.4
1871 . . . Cachar December 1870 . . .
309.1
5.06
11.08
1872 . . . Bhagalpur December
1872.
191.8
3.1
11.2
1873 . . .
Ditto ditto.
96.04
1.49
3.9
1874 . . .
Ditto ditto.
58.7
.71
1.94
. . .
Average . . .
173.36
2.71
6.50
1875 . . . Bhagulpur and Ny a
Doomka.
94.74
.39
3.49
Medical Offi
-cers.
Location and
movements.
Detachment.
Topography
&c.
A peculiarity about the construction of the Bhagalpur fort is, that here and there shafts
of brick work are found from six to seven feet square cemented with clay only, and going down
to a considerable depth; that long ago two such shafts were dug out, and they were found to go
down about 24 feet; nothing was found at the bottom but sand. The moat surrounding the
fort is said to have been formerly filled with water supplied by the hill stream running into
the Ganges at Chumpanala. The cantonment is surrounded by the bazar which comes close
up to its base.
IV. Meteorology and climate .—Mr. Palmer states that the climate is
good, and the heat is never excessive, but at the termination of the rains, and
when the river begins to fall, fevers and diarrhœa become very prevalent in
Bhagalpur.
Bhagalpur
Fort.
Meteorology
and climate.
No change has been made in the disposition of the regimental lines, which
are said to be good of their kind, and to have been kept in good repair through
-out the year.
O Owing to the elevated position of the station, the natural drainage is very
good and efficient, and all surface water runs off nearly as soon as it falls.
A site about 300 yards north-east of the lines had just been granted, it is
stated, on which to erect the regimental latrines: at present the men resort to
the jungle for necessary purposes. In the hospital latrine the "dry-earth"
system is employed and answers well, the mixed night soil and clay is removed
in a Crowley's conservancy cart, and buried.