Latrines, &c.
Deputy
Surgeon-
General Ross'
report on the
sanitary
arrangements
at the Im
-perial As
-semblage.
No excuse
now for
sepoys being
insufficiently
clothed, &c.
xii
vegetables grown in them, would contribute in no small degree towards preserv
-ing the health of the sepoys.
24. By G. G. O. No. 1 of the 1st of January 1877, Her Majesty's Gov
- e r n m e n t , o n t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f I n d i a , w a s p l e a s e d t o
sanction additional allowances to the Native soldier, who, by this means, has
been placed in comparatively easy circumstances, and should not therefore be
permitted in future either to under-feed, or to go about, when off duty, insuffi
-ciently clothed. It has been reported on before now to what an extent the
parsimonious habits of those men, who either under-feed themselves, make
use of food of inferior quality, or do not keep a sufficient supply of private
clothing to wear when off duty, have effected their physical efficiency by pre
-disposing them to fall the ready victims to scurvy and malarious cachexia,
as well as to dysentery and acute diseases of the lungs, from which latter, in
the Punjab and North-Western Frontier stations, the mortality has sometimes
been at a high rate. I am glad, however, to notice that medical officers, being
fully alive to the great importance of these subjects, have bestowed all due
attention on them, and, being well supported by the regimental authorities,
have been able to report that cases of under-feeding, as observed during 1876,
have been exceptionally few, and the mortality from pneumonia, in those sta
-tions in which it was considered to be epidemic, if not contagious, has most
markedly decreased.
The question
of under-feed,
ing, &c., is
still deserving
of close
attention.
Benefits of
camp life.
25. However, notwithstanding the boon of additional allowances, which to
the miser means increased savings, I hope the great necessity there is for still
bestowing close attention to the questions of food and undress clothing will not
be lost sight of, as they play an important part in preserving the health and
increasing the efficiency of an Army; most markedly so, when the men are
engaged on any active service.
26. Several of the reports from regimental medical officers afford strong
evidence, confirmatory not only of the experience gained in former years
regarding the good results accruing to the health of troops from being under
canvas during the cold weather in the Upper Provinces, but, I think, also
proving very conclusively that camp life at such a season, conjoined with the
exercise, out-door recreations, and other conditions attendant on it, may be
considered as probably the best and most reliable restorative for men whose
health has been impaired during a previous hot or rainy season, and on this
account is a valuable sanitary measure, which should, as often as possible, be
turned fully to account.
27. It cannot be doubted that the trench system of latrine, which is now
coming into general use, is a great sanitary success, and that the dislike of
natives to resort to a place of the kind is being gradually overcome. In those
stations in which the system was properly worked, the result has been satis
-factory in every way. However, it is gathered from the reports of regimental
medical officers, that in some stations the Native soldiers still frequent the
jungle, or cultivated fields, close to their lines, for necessary purposes. It is
to be hoped that the introduction of the trench system, wherever the condi
-tions of ground and climate are suitable, will gradually supersede this primi
-tive (though extremely popular) custom with natives, which, in most civilised
communities, is justly objected to as violating the now generally accepted
rules of decency, and that conservancy so necessary to health.
28. In connection with the question of conservancy, I have much pleasure,
acting under the suggestion of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, in
attaching, as an appendix to this volume, a most full and interesting report
from Deputy Surgeon-General Tyrell Ross, of the Saugor Circle, on the medi
-cal and sanitary arrangements which were carried out so successfully under
his direction in. the various Native camps of the Imperial Assemblage at
Delhi in December and January last. Mr. Ross was in general sanitary
charge of those camps; and the system of conservancy so clearly detailed
and organised by him, appears to have been thoroughly effective, and to have
been carried out with a singular freedom from offence of any kind. I consider
that it is a matter of no small importance to have for guidance, on any future
occasion of the kind, such a clearly written narrative of the complete manner
in which the general sanitary arrangements of this widely extended camp
were planned by Mr. Ross, and so energetically carried out under his super-