89
OUDH DIVISION.
the Jats, Goojurs and hill-men take what might be considered as a small allowance; however,
some men from these latter castes assure me that they cannot consume a larger quantity, as
such has always been their usual ration. The Hindoos who eat meat do so so seldom, that this
article of food cannot be considered as a part of their ordinary diet.
X. Clothing.—The uniform is well suited for the climate and for the duties the men have
to perform. I do not consider that, as a rule, the sepoys when in undress are sufficiently
warmly clothed in the cold season, and it is probable that many of the chest and bowel diseases
met with during the cold weather are dependent on want of due precaution against cold and
chills. Each man when in undress in the cold season should wear a warm mirzaie, and of
suff icient size as to keep the chest and abdomen thoroughly covered.
Clothing.
Boots .—The men wear ammunition boots (bazar made), which seem to be of fair quality,
but no matter how well a boot may be made, or how well it may fit the feet, I believe that, with-
-out socks or some other protection, the men when marching or employed even on ordinary duties
will be rendered more or less ineffective from blisters of the feet ; and such protection to the
feet is the more necessary, as it is well known how very hard and wrinkled the native prepared
leather becomes in the dry weather.
XI . The men have only had their ordinary regimental and station duties during the year,
and these have not proved in any way prejudicial to them.
The non-commissioned officers and men have had an average number of nights in bed as
follows—
Havildars . . .
11.68
Naicks . . .
6.32
Sepoys . . .
7.72
XII. Exercise, amusements and occupation .—The regimental and station duties afford the
men a sufficiency of exercise without being at all excessive, and they have also to undergo a
course of training in the gymnasium. A few of the companies in the regiment keep up gardens,
which are a source of healthy and profitable amusements for the men. The possession of private
fire-arms in the lines is forbidden, and consequently the sepoys have but few opportunities for
any shik ar.
X1 1 . Ma r c h e s a n d s e r v i c e. — B e y o n d
t h e m a r c h d o w n t o F o r t M u c h e e B h a w u n o n e v e r y
alternate week, a distant of some four or five miles, the regiment has not been on the march
or on service during the past year ; a few men have had to go on escort and recruiting duty
occasionally, and the regiment has been marched a few miles away from the station for brigade
parades.
Boots.
Exercise,
amusements
and occupa-
tion.
Marches and
service.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital has been described in the report for 1873 ; it affords ample
and suitable accommodation for the sick of the regiment, and has never been overcrowded, as
I have for some time past been treating all cases of ulcers and abscesses in a pâl. The hospital
is well lighted and ventilated. Government quarters for the hospital assistants and native
medical pupils have not as yet been built, and these subordinates now occupy huts which were
built under regimental arrangements close by the range of servants' houses. A dead-house
still remains a want.
The bath-room is commodious and comfortably fitted up ; but, owing to caste prejudices,
is never made use of, except when a cold or hot bath is ordered by the medical officer.
Occasionally men have come into hospital during the cold weather with an insufficient
amount of warm bedding and covering, but this has always been rectified on reporting the
matter. As the sepoys when on the march are allowed free carriage for only 15 seers, I suspect
they strive as far as possible to keep their effects within this limit, and reduce their bedding
and covering as far as they can, in order that their other articles which they consider to be of
greater use may be carried free for them.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment :—
Present
.
.
. 622.11
Absent
.
.
.
71.07
Total . . . 693.18
STATION.
PERIOD .
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OP
Daily
average
number of
sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions.
Deaths
in
hospital.
Admis-
sions.
Deaths.
Daily
average
sick.
Head-quarters at
Lucknow . . . 1st Jan. 1873 31st December
1875.
622.11
491
2
26.94 78.92 0.32
4.33
Number of deaths in hospital 2; out of hospital 4; total 6; per cent. of total strength . . . 0.86
" . . .
4.90
sent on sick leave . . . 9 ; " " . . . 1.29
" of days spent in hospital 9,836 ; per admission 20.03 ;p e r m a n
o f
t o t a l s t r e n g t h . . . 14.18
" " on sick leave 1,164 ; per man 129.33 ; " " 1.67
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength . . . 15.85
Hospital.
Dead house.
Bath-room.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.