SA.UGOR DISTRICT.
47
The water-supply is said to be good.
Water supply.
Clothing.
Duties.
Exercise.
Hospital.
XX. Recommendations .—Recommended that men with old tunics should get them cut
into jackets, to be worn in the cold weather when off duty. An order has been issued to this
effect, at the same time allowing the alterations to be made in the regimental workshop. I
have also recommended that the roads in the lines should be metalled, and stone drains sub
-
stituted for the ditches.
Deputy Surgeon-General J. T. C. Ross made his medical inspection of this
regiment on the 10th December 1875. He reports that the lines are bad,
and the huts too small both in superficial space and in height, and are over
-
crowded. The natural drainage was good. There were two latrines, one for
each wing, and on the trench system. Well water-supply runs short in the hot
season. As regards the question of diet, the Deputy Surgeon-General remarks
that there were more reports of under-feeding in this regiment than in any other
under his administrative superintendence; but there seems to be no particular
reason why this should be the case, as the families of men in the regiment are
not larger, and food is not dearer, than in other stations. Mr. Ross saw several
men with foot galls in the ranks, caused by badly fitting boots. The hospital
was complete in the furniture allowed by regulation, and in all the medical
details for the proper care of the sick. Mr. Ross saw the men off duty on
undress parade: there were about 30 recruits, all poor and weedy-looking men;
the men were small, in poor condition; and there were many old men in the
ranks.
Inspection.
Head Quarters and Left Wing, 20th Regiment Madras Aative Infantry —Banda.
I. Medical Officers .—Surgeon C. Sibthorpe from 1st January to 20th
April, Surgeon A. A. Thomas from 21st April to 18th October, and Surgeon J.
Backhouse from 19th October to 31st December; the latter officer supplies the
report.
II. Location and movements.— The head-quarters had been stationed at
Banda, North-Western Provinces, throughout the year. There were no marches
during 1875.
IV. Meteorology and climate.— The year was remarkable for the lateness of
the setting in of the rains, and the severity of the hot Weather preceding them.
The rains commenced on 24th July and terminated on the 7th October; the
total rain-fall was 66¾ inches.
V. Lines and huts. The lines and huts were described in the report for
1874, and there was not anything in connection with their sanitary condition
during 1875 calling for any further special remarks. The two tanks alluded to in
report for 1874, and which are said to receive the drainage from the lines, are
considered to be objectionable in a sanitary point of view.
The drainage remains the same as described in last year's report.
The condition of the latrines and the conservancy arrangements are the
same as in 1874.
Medical
Officers.
Location and
movements.
Meteorology
and climate.
Lines and huts.
Drainage.
The various articles of diet were of good quality, and, with the exception
of rice, were sold at a reasonable price. The men are fairly nourished, but the
medical officer states that there were some cases of under-feeding amongst those
who had large families, or a number of relatives and friends living on them.
The uniform is reported on as being quite suitable to the season and to
t h e
duties the men have to perform, but the undress clothing of the sepoys is sa
i d
to be insufficient for the cold weather of this presidency. The duties consisted
of the usual parades, and the men have had 3.30 nights in bed during the year.
The men play at cricket, keep up a vegetable garden, go out shooting, fishing,
&c. The regiment has not been on the march during the year.
XIV. Hospital.— The hospital has worked very well during the past year and has answered
all requirements, otherwise the same as previous years.
Diet.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding .—Strength of the regiment—
Present . . .
376.90
Absent
.
.
.
310.90
T o t a l . . .
687.80
Sickness,
mortality and invaliding.