120
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Meteorology
and climate.
Lines and
huts.
Drainage.
Conservancy
and latrines
Water-supply
probably fewer trees there at the present time than when the regiment occupied these lines
ten years ago. The entire removal of the layer of kunkur which underlies the surface, and
constant watering, seem to be the only means which afford a chance of bringing the trees to
maturity. Canal irrigation has been carried on as in former years, being only interrupted
for about a month in April for the purpose of cleaning out the canal. Rabi, or spring
crops, chiefly of wheat, are grown in many parts of the station, with the effect of allaying
the heat and dust at the commencement of the hot weather. The tall kharif, or autumn
crops, are not allowed to be grown.
IV. Meteorology and climate. —There is no meteorological observatory at Meean Meer, and
no place where the rainfall is registered. The quantity recorded as having fallen at the
Lahore Observatory in 1876 is 24 . 97 inches; which, though less than in 1875, is considerably
above the average. Two thirds of this fell in the month of July.
V. Lines and huts. —The lines and huts are the same as in former years. There has been
no overcrowding ; the huts are kept in good repair, and the openings for ventilation have been
maintained. As there was very little shade for the horses, a great number of new trees have
been planted, care being taken to remove Completed the layer of kunkur from the soil previous
to inserting them.
VI. Drainage. —The natural drainage of the station and lines is bad; and although much
has been done to improve the artificial drainage, it is still in a very unsatisfactory state.
When heavy rains fell in July, it became necessary to bring the state of the drainage in the
lines to the notice of the Major-General commanding the station. The drains were then
cleared out by the Executive Engineer, and such temporary improvements as could be made
were carried out; but the Engineer considered that the main outlets required enlarging, owing
to the new brick drains in the Royal Artillery lines having accelerated the flow from that
direction into the Cavalry lines. It is to be feared that the thorough and effectual drainage of
Meean Meer is a most difficult problem, not only from the natural fall being so slight, but from
the stiff nature of the clay of which the soil is composed, rendered almost impermeable by
the layer of kunkur, which is so firmly imbedded in it, and which prevents the downward per--
colation of the water. A layer of damp earth thus exists, at all events during the months when
fever is prevalent, at no great distance from the surface, and seems sufficient to explain the
great prevalence of that disease at this station.
VII. Conservancy and latrines. —The conservancy arrangements and latrines are the
same as in former years, and are described in the Sanitary Report of the 11th Bengal Lancers
for 1873. The system answers well. A number of trees have been planted during the year
around the latrine, and if they can be brought to maturity, will afford privacy and shelter,
which are at present much needed. The stable litter is at first deposited in walled enclosures in
rear of the lines, and afterwards removed by contractors.
VIII. Water-supply.—The water-supply has been, as before, mainly from wells, of which
there are three, two in the lines and one at the hospital ; the distance of the water from the
surface varies in the different wells from 38 to 41 feet, and the depth of water from 16 to 27
feet. The water is brackish, particularly in the well on the right flank, and contains far too
much saline matter, chiefly salts of soda, to be a good drinking water. It does not, however,
appear to be disliked by the men. The canal water at this end of the station is dirty, often
muddy, arid quite unfit for drinking purposes ; it is used, however, for bathing, particularly
during the hot weather : the well water, from being warmer, is preferred during the cold weather.
The horses are watered from the wells by the bhisties ; there are some pucka troughs near
the wells, and these were used for watering the horses during the fever season, when so many
of the bhisties were sick. The clothes are washed in a small branch of the canal, but the
quantity of water available for this purpose is much too small ; and as the current is very slow,
and regulated chiefly by the demands of the zemindars for irrigating their crops, the water
is apt to get dirty and contaminated, and the mud at the bottom of the nullah emits an offend-
sive odour.
Diet.
Clothing.
Duty and
employment
IX.
Diet.—Most articles of diet have been cheap and abundant throughout the year,
and generally of good quality. Vegetables have been plentiful ; there have been no cases of
scurvy ; and no cases of underfeeding have come to my notice. There are two langrees in each
troop, who cook for the men ; and this system saves the men time, trouble and expense, and is
much appreciated by them. It has occurred to me that if regular hours for meals were introduced
amongst native soldiers, it would be an advantage : no doubt there would be difficulties at first
in carrying it out, but I do not think that they are insuperable.
X .
C l o t h l i n g .
— T h e
o n l y c h a n g e o f i m p o r t a n c e t h a t h a s b e e n m a d e i n t h e c l o t t i n g o f t h e
men duri ng t he year has been t he i ssue of new chogas i n l i eu of t he cl oaks t hey wore l ast
year. Their uniform seems suitable to the seasons and the duties they have to perform.
Warm koortas were worn by them on night duties when fever became prevalent. If left to
themselves, they are very careless about their bedding, and measures had, as in former years,
to be taken at the commencement of the cold weather to compel them to provide themselves
with it. The undress clothing also of many of the men is often very scanty ; and it is no
uncommon thing to see a man, who has worn his warm koorta on duty during the heat of the
day, going about in the cold mornings and evenings thinly clad in cotton clothes : such a prac--
tice cannot fail in many cases to lead to attacks of fever, pneumonia and dysentery.
X1. Duty and employment. —The duties and employment or the men have been the
ordinary regimental, station, escort, and parade duties : nothing emergent has been required
of them. The number of continuous nights in bed was 7.5.