208
March to Prek
and its de-
struction.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
with a gun and rocket boat, went up the river in support. The force advanced through alter
- n a t e p a d d y f i e l d s a n d f o r e s t t o I n g h a , w h e r e s o m e s h o t s w e r e f i r e d b y t h e e n e m y , w h o w e r e
hidden in gardens; a number of them, however, being seen from the gun-boats, some shells
and rockets were sent amongst them, when they disappeared. The village was fired, and the
force bivouacked in the neighbourhood. The night was very damp and chilly, with a very
heavy dew, and a thick fog enveloped the place in the morning. Many cases of dysentery
and fever were the result of this night's exposure.
Next morning, leaving 50 men at Ingha, the remainder of the force marched to Prek.
About half way, Where the path wound round the foot of a forest covered hill, we were received
with a volley by the enemy, who were concealed in the thick jungle only a few yards off.
Fortunately, little harm was done. Lieutenant-Colonel Hill was struck by a bullet on the leg,
but it did not penetrate his gaiter; and one of the sepoys had his rifle sling shot through,
while another bullet struck his pouch and flattened itself amongst his ammunition. A party
was at once sent into the jungle, and the enemy retreated, firing a few shots, as they went.
At Prek there was a slight resistance, but no casualty. The village was destroyed, and the
troops returned to Qualla Kangsa.
The heat now became much greater. Little or no rain had fallen for three weeks. The
Perak fell rapidly, till it became easily fordable. The maximum thermometer showed 96°-97°F.
in the Officers' bungalows, and in the sun 135°F. and upwards. Dysentery and fevers were
Nostalgia. very prevalent. Nostalgia now began to affect the sepoys, and was increased by rumours
that the regiment was to be kept in the country for another year. The men made no co
m- plaints but fell into low spirits, and fancied they should all die away from home. At last, on
25th February, rain fell, and from that time heavy showers occurred every evening. The
heat became less trying, and the thermometer fell to 93°F. and soon after to 91°F.; the sick-
n e s s t h e n r a p i d l y d i mi n i s h e d .
23.On 8th March, orders were received for the troops to return to India, and I wa
s d i r e c t e d t o p r o c e e d w i t h a l l t h e n a t i v e s i c k o n b o a r d t h e t r a n s p o r tC
z a r e w i t c h
l y i n g o f f
the Larut river.
On 10th, I embarked with 55 sick, as per margin.
On 19th, the whole force having embarked on board
the steam ships Himalayah and Arabia and the store ship
Czarewitch, sailed for India. On the voyage most of the
sick improved, but sea-sickness interfered very much with their
recovery, by preventing the weakly men from gaining
strength. On 21st March a sepoy died of chronic dysentery
and was buried at sea. On 31st the sick, immediately on their arrival in Calcutta, were sent
off by rail from Howrah. After landing, almost all the sick, and weakly men rapidly
recovered their health; but several cases of fever occurred during the journey, especially at
Meerut, where the night was very chilly. On the march from Jullundur to Dhurmsala heavy
rain fell, and several cases of fever and dysentery, and one of pneumonia, were the result.
On 15th April the regiment reached Dhurmsala. Since their return to India, several of the
men who suffered from fever and dysentery in the Malay Peninsula, have had a return of
these complaints; and some, who were well throughout the compaign, have since been attacked
by these diseases.
results resu
Good results from the expe-
dition being formed in the healthiest
season of the year.
24. It was most fortunate that the operations commenced at the best and healthiest time
of the year. The troops landed in Sungie Yujong on 10th December, and in Perak a few days
earlier. The weather was then at its coolest, showers occurred daily, and the sky was
fre-quently cloudy for the greater part of the twenty-four hours. The atmosphere was almost satu-
rated with moisture, and violent exercise caused profuse perspiration; but when cloudy it was
possible to march considerable distances without exhaustion. Not only was there very little
sickness, but the wounded men, both of Her Majesty's 10th Foot and of the Arab auxiliaries,
made unusually good recoveries. When the sun was not obscured by clouds, the solar heat
was great, and marching was very fatiguing, especially as the paths were generally obstructed
by fallen trees, or disappeared in swamps. So far as I could ascertain, this cloudy, showery
weather lasts usually from early in November till the middle of January. From this time
until the setting in of the south-west monsoon, late in March, rain falls but seldom, the heat
increases, and the difference between daily and nightly temperature becomes much greater.
At this time the nights become chilly, dews heavy, and, near rivers and swamps, dense night
fogs are common. It is then dangerous to health for troops to bivouac in the open. During
the interval, between the ending of the south-west, and setting in of the north-east, monsoon,
the climate is hot and comparatively dry. Near the coast, the climate is always more
equable than in the interior, and fogs are rare. Here, too, the neighbourhood of swamps
appears to be comparatively free from danger at all times. Malacca, surrounded on three
sides by marshes and paddy-fields, is a very healthy place; and Mattang, the port of Larut,
which is built in a mangrove swamp, is said by the officials resident there not to be unhealthy.
Certainly few if any, cases of fever originated there amongst the troops.
increase in
temperature.
Orders to
return to
:India, and
embarkation
of the force. Wounds
1
Fevers
21
Dysentery
20
Boils, &c.
1
Other diseases
12
TOTAL
55
Climate of the
Malay
Peninsula.
25. Although the climate of the Malay Peninsula is a comparatively healthy one for the
tropics, Europeans who have lived there for some time are generally pallid and anæmic; and
medical men of experience in the country consider that immediate change to a cooler climate
is necessary when any serious illness occurs. Even amongst the sepoys, those who had
suffered from fever or dysentery gained strength very slowly, and were very subject to
relapses. The Goorkhas appeared to feel the climate almost as much as their European Officers,