Drainage.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Water-supply.
Diet.
Exercise
amusement
and occupa
-tions.
Marches and
service.
Hospital.
108
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Topography,
&c.
Lines.
IV. Topography, &c .—Around the station the ground is broken and uneven, being inter--
sected by ravines and nullahs. The soil contains a large amount of the salts of potash and
sodium. The cantonments are situated about 2 miles from the city. Near cantonments is a
large open maidan, admirably adapted for parade purposes.
V. Lines.—The lines are situated to the south-east of cantonments, and adjoin the
parade ground. The huts consist of eight blocks; each block is capable of accommodating
about 80 men. They are ventilated by means of doorways on either side, as well as at the
ends; roof ventilation has also been introduced. To increase the superficial area and cubic
space, each block has lately been lengthened by about 16 feet. The drainage of the lines is
excellent; there is a natural slope in the ground, and channels have been dug towards a large
nullah which runs at right angles to the lines; by this means the lines are perfectly dry in the
rainy season, and there is no accumulation of surface water.
VI. Drainage.—In the station, generally, the natural drainage is not good, owing to the
level nature of the ground. Much has been done, however, to improve it as much as possible.
As mentioned in the p r e c e d i n g p a r a g r a p h , t h e d r a i n a g e i n t h e l i n e s i s e x c e l l e n t .
VII. Conservancy and latrines.—The latrines are situated about 140 yards to the south
- e a s t o f t h e l i n e s ; t h e t r e n c h s y s t e m i s a d o p t e d , w i t h m o v e a b l e s c r e e n s . T h e s e w h e n m a d e u s e o f
are filled in by the company, mehters and fresh ones dug. The system is excellent, and no
noxious effluvium is perceptible near them. As yet subsequent cultivation has not been tried.
The hospital latrine is a pucka building about 40 yards distant from the hospital.
Clothing.
Duty and
employment.
VIII. Water-supply.—Water is obtained from pucka wells in the vicinity of the lines; the
supply is ample, but the water is brackish.
IX. Diet.—The regiment being composed almost entirely of Hindus, the chief articles
of food are rice, attah, dhall, vegetables and milk, with ghee and spices. Vegetables have been
readily obtained at low prices. All articles of food are daily inspected by the quarter-master,
and a committee of Native officers visit the bazar every day to inspect the supplies. As a
rule, the men do not under-feed themselves.
X. Clothing.—In winter the regulation scarlet tunic with serge pyjamahs and gaiters
are worn; a quilted vest is worn underneath the tunic, and a great coat over all for night
duty. In summer, white drill clothing is worn; a half-boot with strap and buckle across the
instep is worn. This seems to answer well.
XI. Duty and employment.—As the regiment had to send detachments to Fatehgarh and
Ulwar for the greater part of the year, the usual station guards, orderlies and escort parties, &c.,
had to be furnished from those at head-quarters; the duty was consequently sometimes heavy,
but no bad result followed from this.
XII. Exercise, amusements and occupations.— There is a gymnasium with appliances in the
lines. In the morning after parade the recruits have to practise gymnastics for an hour under
a havildar. This is excellent exercise and tends materially to increase their muscular develop--
ment.
XIII. Marches and service.— The head-quarters of the regiment has remained at Agra
during the year, and has supplied detachments to Fatehgarh and Ulwar.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital has been frequently described in former reports. It is a
long kutcha-built building with thatched roof. It is capable of accommodating 34 men. As
yet no steps have been taken to erect the new hospital which was sanctioned some time ago.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment—
Present
.
.
.
617.73
Absent
.
.
.
70.84
TOTAL . . .
688.57
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average
number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
To
Admis-sion. Deaths.
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
From
Daily
average
sick.
Head-quarters at Agra . . . 1st Jan. 1875 31st Dec. 1875 473.58
152
7
16.53
32.09 1.47 3.49
Detachment at Fatehgarh . . . 19th Mar.1875
. . .
152.39
134
1
4.87 111.40
.83
3.86
" Ulwar
. . . 1st Jan. 1875 16th Mar. 1875 5 6 .
9
. . .
2.87
78.26
. . .
4.23
" " . . .
9th Oct. 1875 31st Dec. 1875
5 1 .
4
. . .
.08
35.27
. . . .15
TOTAL
. . .
617.73
299
8
20.91
48.40 1.29
3.38
Number of deaths in hospital, 8; out of hospital, 1; total, 9; per cent. of total strength . . . 1 30
" invalided . . . 33; " " . . . 4.79
"
sent on sick leave . . . 16; " " . . . 2.32
"
of days spent in hospital, 7,542; per admission, 25.2; per man of total strength . . . 10.95
"
on sick leave, 2063; per man, 128.93; " " . . . 2.99
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength . . . 13-94