Recruits.
Amusement.
Hospital.
86
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
the detachment of native troops on guard at the fort. I herewith submit a ground plan
of the sepoys' quarters 10 feet to the 1 inch, for ready reference:—
G
A
Bell of Arms.
H
B K
C
L
M
D
N
E
O
F
P
Drainage.
The lower flat delineated by the letters D. E. F. C. B. (A being bell of arms) has a cubical
contents of 13,915 with 35 occupants (allowing for the men absent on guard); this gives
397.57 cubic feet or 39.757 superficial feet per man, the room being 10 feet high.
The upper flat has a cubical contents of 17247.5, or an average of 492.79 cubic feet, or
50.77 superficial feet per head, the height of the room being greater. There are fewer windows
and doors on this floor, therefore the ventilation is very defective and incomplete. Since
writing the above, the number of guards has been increased to 38 instead of 35 on each floor
at a time, so that the cubical contents per man is greatly decreased, 366.18 cubic feet in the
lower and 453.88 in the upper room. It is plain, therefore, that the cubical contents allotted to
the guard falls far short of the authorized amount for well-ventilated quarters per head,
(600 cubic feet).
In the lower floor, as shewn, each man has only 366.18 cubic feet, and in the upper 453.88
cubic feet, being 233.83 cubic feet in the former and 146.12 cubic feet in the latter less than
the standard required for health. Supposing each individual to respire 16.66 cubic feet per hour,
the whole atmosphere allotted to him (supposing no fresh air to enter, and not much does) would
be consumed in 21.98 hours, with exhalation of 13.73 cubic feet of CO 2 per man in the lower
floor in 27.8 hours exhaling 17.05 cubic feet of CO 2 per man in the upper.
It is therefore clear from the above calculation, that there is a deficiency of 14437.5
cubic feet, or, on an average, 189.96 cubic feet per man (it was from this guard that the cases of
cholera came). The building is very badly ventilated, close and unwholesome.
VI. Drainage .—The drainage and conservancy of the lines is reported
on as being good.
Water-supply.
Clothing.
Duties.
The water supply was from wells, and was good and abundant.
The bazar was well stocked with all the usual articles of diet, which were
sold at a moderate price, and were of good quality.
The clothing was of the same kind as that noticed in the report for 1874.
Mr. Amesbury considers that, with their present boots worn without socks, it
would be scarcely possible for the men to make a march, or go through a
parade, without increasing the numbers of admissions into hospital; there
were 62 cases of foot-sores admitted during the year. All the men in this re
-giment are provided with a suitable kit of undress clothing, and the recruits
are also looked after in this respect.
XI. Duties and employment.—When the regiment is on station duty, there are 82 of
all ranks as guards and orderlies, but 58 when on fort duties. The men have had light work
throughout the year, except in September and October, when there were extra guards
required for the cholera camps.
There were 48 recruits enlisted in 1875, all of them being a fine set of men promising well.
XIII. Amusement .—The amusements of the men consist chiefly in gymnastics and
occasional pulling in special regimental sports.
XI V Hospi t al. — T h i s
e s t a b l i s h m e n t h a s b e e n f r e q u e n t l y d e s c r i b e d i n p r e v i o u s r e p o r t s
as excellent in every way and affording ample space for a, large number of sick. I give the
cubical contents of the four wards of the hospital, allowing 600 cubic feet per man (exclusive
of the voluminous ventilation), 75.9 men can be readily accommodated—
Ward.
Cubic feet.
Superficial feet.
No. 1 . . .
20,460 . . .
1 , 3 2 0
" 2 . . .
2 3 , 8 7 0 . . .
1,540
Ophthalmic
" 3 . . .
1,216 . . .
128
Bath-room
"
4 . . .
1,216 . . .
128