Topography
and physical
geography.
Lines, bar-
racks.
Drainage.
Conservancy.
Water-supply
Diet.
Clothing,
Day and
employment.
Exercises.
Marches and
services.
Hospital.
Sickness,
m ortality and
invaliding.
182
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
III. Topography and physical geography.— The topography and physical geography of the
station and surrounding country have been so frequently described by medical officers
in previous reports, vide those for 1871, 1872, 1873, that no further description of different
points under these heads is needed. The features are unvaried, and nothing fresh has since
occurred worth recording.
V.Lines, Barracks.—The lines occupied by the regiment are the same which were
occupied by the 26th Punjab Native Infantry in the previous three years; these are old lines,
built nearly thirty years ago. Hardly any alteration has taken place. The state of repair
was pretty fair during the year. The huts are built in blocks; each block consists of two
parallel lines of huts arranged back to back, with one common wall between the two series and
one common wall to every two contiguous huts of the same series. The roof slopes down a
little from the common middle wall. The floor is sunk a few inches below the ground level.
There is no communication between any two contiguous huts. There is only one doorway to
each hut, viz., that of entrance in front; each hut contains-on an average 683 cubic feet; and
accommodates two men. Therefore every man has a superficial area of 37 square feet and a
space of 341 1/2 cubic feet allowed to him. From the above, description it will appear that the
disposition and construction of the huts are both faulty ; the ventilation is very defective, in fact
there is hardly any means for ventilation; while the small allowance of cubic feet allowed to
each man makes the matter still worse. Nothing short of a change in the construction and
disposition of the huts will make them abodes for men. The lines are built on a slope, with
north and north-west sides perfectly open un to the base of the hills.
VI. Drainage.—The cantonments stand on a natural slope, the directions of the slope
being from south-east to north-west. The natural drainage is therefore fair, but the soil is
very retentive of moisture, and there are a number of hollows in different parts of the canton-
ment. These two facts serve to keep the ground of the cantonment moist after rain, and render
the drainage of sub-soil water by artificial means a matter of great sanitary importance ; and
it is to be regretted that nothing has been done to improve the soil of so notoriously unhealthy
a military station as Peshawar.
VII. Conservancy.—Conservancy is generally fair : men resort to the fields (at a distance)
during the day and to the latrines at night; there are two pucka latrines, one for each wing;
one of these has been built during the past year. Dry-earth system is worked successfully ;
night urinals of the Tines require a radical change in construction. The present method is as
follows : There are eight urinals, one for each company; each consists of two large ghurras
surrounded by tatties; they are placed at some distance from the back of each company. These
are night and day -urinals. Men void urine in a standing posture, and the ground is invariably
tainted, and a disagreeable stench is always perceptible on approaching them, besides, it is
distasteful to the Hindoo portion of the regiment to void urine in standing postures. So long
as this state of thing continues. Perfect cleanliness of the lines cannot be secured.
VIII. Water-supply.— The water-supply of the cantonment and the water has been
frequently described, and continues unchanged. It is a fruitful cause of disease, as all sorts of
pollution—animal and vegetable—find easy access to the water used for cooking purposes. The
water obtained from the Bara by open water-courses is made to pass through four settling tanks
containing pebbles, and ultimately into a large tank, which is covered. There are two such
tanks ; water is still muddy. There is a large tank for bathing purposes.
•
IX. Diet.— The dieting of the regiment is carried on through the regimental bazaar,
which is pretty frequently inspected by the regimental surgeon. Different articles of food
are of good quality and of sufficient quantity. Vegetables, milk, attna and ghee are kept in
proper condition, and moderate in price. The Pathans and the Punjabi Mussulmans use meat
pretty regularly, but the Sikhs and Doogras now and then. Altogether the diet is adapted to
the climate of Peshawar ; under-feeding or improper feeding is rare, and promptly checked
if brought to notice.
X. Clothing.—Clothing of the men (uniform) is adapted to the climate of Peshawar and the
duty they perform, but their undress is hardly enough for the winter at this station. The subject
has been fully described in previous reports. Posteen or sheep skin coats worn in winter
protect the body from cold, but there is some room for improvement in the form of these coats.
Th e y d o n ' t f u l l y c o v e r t h e u p p e r p a r t s o f t h e c h e s t i n f r o n t ; i f t h e b r e a s t - p i e c e s o f t h e s e c o a t s
were made to overlap each other from the neck in front downwards, they would serve the
purpose efficiently.
XI. Duty and employment.— The ordinary duty performed in the station is generally heavy,
Particularly more so in some months than in others.
Exercises.— The Hindoo portion of the regiment use the clubs whenever they have
time to do so, but the Pathans are not given to any kind of physical exercise. As a matter of
amusement, some pay attention to gardening and rear vegetables for their use.
XIII. Marches and services.— No service was performed by the regiment during the past
year, except the march from Delhi to Peshawar. No other marches Were performed by the
regiment in 1875.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital has been described in previous reports. It is well located,
but the roof of the hospital requires repair.
XV.Sickness, mortality and invaliding.— Strength of the regiment
Present
. ..
... ... ... ...
603.37
Absent
... ... ... ... ...
91.25
Total
... ... ...
694.62