Location and
movements.
Topography
and physical
geography.
118
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
31st December. Detachment, Rawal Pindi, one company, Surgeon-Major B. Kendall, from 1st
January to 5th February; Surgeon-Major G. Watson, from 6th February to 13th August; Surgeon
W. A. C. Roe, from 14th August to 8th October; Surgeon-Major G. Watson, from 9th October
to 31st December. Detachment at Cherat, one company, hospital assistant Kurrum Deen,
from 27th April to 13th August; Surgeon Meane, A.M.D., 14th August to 29th October.
There was a small detachment of 62 men on the Duffla Expedition, from 1st January to
19th March, mostly under medical charge of hospital assistants.
II. Location and movements .—The head-quarters, with seven companies (Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
and 10), were at Roorkee from 1st January to 6th November; on the latter date leaving No. 1
depôt company and the recruits behind, the remainder marched to join the Camp of Exercise at
Delhi, where they continued until the end of the, year. On the 15th March, a detachment of
two companies marched to Hurdwar to throw pontoon bridges across the Ganges during the fair.
The sick of this detachment were included in the head-quarters' returns. The companies
returned to Roorkee about the middle of April. During the absence of the head-quarters at
Delhi, a depôt was formed at Roorkee till the close of the year. The usual detachment of two
companies (4th and 8th) has formed part of the Peshawar garrison throughout the year. One
of them goes to Cherat every year from April to October; and a small section was on special
duty at Hazargurh.
Similarly, the 9th company has been on garrison duty at Rawal Pindi the whole year,
with a section detailed temporarily for duty in Attock fort. A select detachment of 62 men
who joined the Duffla Expedition in October 1874 returned to Roorkee 19th March 1875.
Minor parties have been on duty under the Torpedo Committee in Calcutta, and attending divi
-sional schools of instruction.
III. Topography and physical, geography.—Roorkee has been occupied as a civil station
about 30 years, since the Ganges Canal was first projected; and as a military cantonment since
1854, when Bengal Sappers and Miners were first removed here from Meerut. There has also
been a wing of a British regiment located here since 1858. It is 65 miles north-east of
Meerut, 28 east of Saharunpur, and 52 south of Dehra Dun. The climate is the same as
that of the North-Western Provinces generally, tempered by its closer proximity to the
Himalayas. Storms of thunder, wind and rain occur at intervals even during the hot season,
bringing a pleasant relief to the prolonged heat. The thermometer seldom rises over 96° in a
good house. The cold season is long and occasionally severe. The station has a very level
aspect, with long avenues of trees marking the roads and canal; the soil very light and sandy;
the drainage flows into the 'Solani,' a wide shallow stream which flows from the Sewalik water
-shed eastwards into the Ganges. The Ganges Canal is carried through the civil station; but no
irrigation takes place near to it, and the general water level does not seem materially affected.
All the drinking water of cantonments is obtained from brick-lined wells. There is never
any scarcity. Its level is about 33 to 31 feet according to season; and there is in all good
wells a minimum depth of 20 feet of water throughout the year. It has always borne a very
excellent repute, and was reported by Surgeon E. G. May in 1870, after analysis, to be a very
good drinking water. It lies on a limestone kunkur bed stratum, below a very fine sparkling
sand. It is soft, clear and agreeable. All the wells are very carefully protected from
surface pollution.
Cantonment.
Meteorology
and climate.
Cholera in the
Thomason
College.
The cantonment is kept clean and is altogether clear of jungle. There is very little tree
growth except by roadsides and in one or two gardens. The ordinary village cultivation of
the North-West surrounds it on all sides. There are neither marshes, rivers nor lakes of any
magnitude in the vicinity; but about 20 miles to the east are the "Kadir" lines of the Ganges,
which are annually flooded during the monsoon rains and probably favor the production of a
local miasma. The sanitary condition of the civil station, which adjoins cantonments, is not
so well cared for as it should be. There are far too many trees and luxuriant under-growth for
the limited area. The drainage is imperfect; and the conservancy arrangements for servants
and natives generally are very defective.
IV. Meteorology and climate .—There has been nothing unusual to record. The regular
monsoon rain was considerably delayed, so that June was oppressively hot. I have observed
that this has occurred very regularly in alternate years of late. There was plenty of stormy
weather and much rain in the middle of May, which possibly delayed the arrival of the regular
rains. A very heavy storm broke over the station on Monday night, the 10th May, and
the first case of cholera which broke out in the Thomason College happened on the 14th May;
and during the ten days the epidemic lasted, the weather remained variable, at times hot and
sunny, at others cool and cloudy. There was no manifest coincidence or connection between
the disease and these electrical storms.
Lines, bar
- r a c k s a n d huts.
Drainage.
V. Lines, barracks and huts .—The remarks entered in my annual report for 1874 and pre
- v i o u s y e a r s n e e d n o t b e r e p e a t e d . T h e s e p o y s ' l i n e s a r e k e p t i n g o o d r e p a i r , a n d t h e i r s a n i t a r y
condition is good, though not perfect. The regimental bazaar is clean, convenient, and not over
- c r o w d e d . I s h o u l d b e g l a d i f i t c o u l d b e r e m o v e d t o a s i t e f u r t h e r o u t s i d e t h e l i n e s , a t t h e s o u t h
boundary of cantonments. At present the bazaar is placed very centrally, and the space
occupied by it would, if left vacant, be of advantage for thorough perflation. But the change
would involve so great an expense for compensation that I am afraid there is no chance of
obtaining it.
VI. Drainage.—The remarks made in the Annual Sanitary Report for 1874 and preceding
years are also appropriate for 1875. The system is entirely "surface" saucer drains, which open