MEERUT DIVISION.
113
Viceroy's Body-Guard—Dehra Dun.
I. Medical Officers .—Surgeon-Major O. Barnett, Surgeon to the Viceroy, was
in charge from the 1st Janu
-ary until 29th March, and
from 2nd November to 31st
December. From the 10th
April until 17th October,
when the regiment was at
Dehra, Surgeon Maclaren
was in medical charge. The
former officer furnishes the
Annual Sanitary Report.
II. Location.—The regiment
was stationed at Ballygunge, Cal
-
cutta, from 1st January till 7th
March, when it left by rail for special duty at Delhi with the Viceroy's camp; remained
at Delhi until 29th March, when it left for Dehra Dún to be stationed there during the hot
months; left Dehra on the 18th October, and arrived in Calcutta on the 25th October.
A detachment of 65 men was sent to Bombay for duty with the Viceroy on the occasion of
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales' reception. Rejoined head-quarters in Calcutta on
16th November.
V. Lines and barracks .—There are four blocks of buildings which were built for stables;
as there are no huts for the men like other native regiments, one block of stabling has been
converted into a barrack-room and affords good accommodation for the men. The dimensions
of this building, which is divided in four compartments, are as follows :—
Feet. Inches.
Length of each compartment . . .
144
9
Breadth . . .
14
0
Height . . .
14
3
Superficial area of each compartment . . .
2,026½ 0
Cubic area of ditto . . .
28,877½ 0
Superficial area of the 4 compartments . . .
8,106
0
Cubic area of ditto . . .
115,510½ 0
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1870 . . . Ballygunge, Nov. 1869.
233.9
. 8 7
5.6
1871 . . .
Ditto ditto . . .
197.5
. 1 1
6.7
1872 . . .
Ditto ditto. . .
276.7
. . .
5.98
1873 . . .
Ditto ditto . . .
201.8
1. 16
3.86
1874 . . .
Ditto ditto . . .
151.2
1.15
3.3
Average . . .
212.22
. 6 5
4.96
1875 . . . Dehra Dún, March 1875.
272.7
1.94
5.2
Medical
Officers.
Location.
Lines and
barracks.
This building would be rendered still more suitable for occupation if a verandah were
added on it as has been done to the stables. At Dehra new lines have been built for the
regiment, which are reported to afford ample and good accommodation.
VI. Drainage.—In the immediate vicinity of stables and lines there are surface drains
which carry off refuse water and urine from the stables and lines; but as the ground is low and
flat, it cannot but be imperfect; they are, however, kept as clean as possible under regimental
supervision.
Drainage.
VII. Conservancy and latrines .—There is a regulated establishment of sweepers, and the
lines are kept clean and in good order under the supervision of regimental officers. The
latrines are in good repair and conveniently situated; all refuse is taken away in a conservancy
cart, and no refuse is allowed to accumulate in or near lines. At Dehra there are no latrines;
in the monthly sanitary report the medical officer states the men resort to the open fields to
leeward of the lines.
VIII. Water .—The water-supply, as I have repeatedly noticed, is not satisfactory, and I
would again urge the necessity of securing to the men a supply of good water from the
municipal stand-pipes. A good water-cart with a pair of bullocks would, I think, meet the
requirements of the case and not entail much expense. The Hindus persist in taking water for
drinking and cooking purposes from a tank. It is as clean as it possibly could be expected
from its vicinity to the lines and stables. A water-barrel, as suggested, was applied for
months ago by the commanding officer, but it has not yet been provided. The water-supply
at Dehra is taken from an open canal ; quality reported to be impure and liable to contamina
-
t i o n .
Conservancy
and latrines.
Water.
IX. Diet .—The men provide their own food and cook it; they ought to be well nourished,
as their pay is liberal. I fear however, many of them live poorly and save their money.
I have spoken to the Commanding Officer on this subject, and he has given special orders that
men who do not use sufficient and good food be brought to his notice.
X I I
. E x e r c i s e a n d a m u s e m e n t
. — D u r i n gt
h e l a s t f o u r m o n t h s , t h e m e n h a v e b e e n s o
occupied with their duties, which were unusually heavy, particularly during the Prince's visit,
that they had not much time for amusement. Many of them play polo.
Diet.
Exercise and
amusement.
XIII. Marches and service .—The marches and detachment duties performed have been
fully detailed in Paragraph II
.
Marches and
service.
XIV. Hospital.—A stone building of the following dimensions :—
L e n g t h . . .
Feet.
94
Breadth
.
.
. 20
Height . . .
15
Hospital.