Medical
Officers.
Location and
movements.
Topography,
&c.
Meteorology
and climate.
Water-supply.
Diet.
Clothing.
Duty and
employment.
Exercise,
amusements,
&c.
Marches and
services.
Hospital.
Lines, bar-
racks and huts.
Drainage.
Conservancy,
&c.
80
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Examination.
Inspection.
December 1876. There were 256 admissions with 27 cases of primary syphilis ;
the average number in hospital for the year being 9.4. In 1875, 214 admissions
were registered among the European troops, while in 1876 there were 182, thus
shewing a decrease of 32 cases in the year under report. The women of the
regimental bazars are examined once a week by the officer in medical charge,
the other prostitutes once a fortnight. The fines realized for non-attendance
was Rs. 15-7.
Inspection.—Mr. Cannon in his inspection report writes thus : "I regret
that all the women on the register were not mustered as formerly on the
occasion of my visit, and that the weekly inspections have not lately been
conducted under the personal supervision of the medical officer in charge.
I must insist for the future on its being carefully, punctually and personally
performed by the Superintendent. Dr. Barnard's late indisposition has prevented
him being as attentive to this part of his duties as I could have wished."
1st Regiment, Native Infantry—Gorakhpur.
I. Medical Officers. —Surgeon A. McM. Paterson held medical charge
of the regiment during the
year.
II. Location and movements.—
The regiment was stationed at
Gorakhpur during the year. A
detachment of the strength of 80
men was sent to Benares on the
23rd October 1876, on the depar-
ture of the 13th Native Infantry
to Agra.
III. Topography and physical
geography.—This subject has been
fully entered on in previous re-
ports, vide 1872-73.
IV. Meteorology and climate.—
The temperature during the year
was on the whole low ; the rains set in later than usual, and the heavy floods did not take
place till the end of September and the beginning of October.
V. Lines, barracks and huts. —The lines are always kept clean, and the sanitary arrange-
ments always most satisfactory. The barracks are in good repair, well ventilated ; no over-
crowding, with ample cubic and superficial space per man.
V. Drainage.—The drainage was taken in hand by the Department Public Works this
year, and will be far superior to the old system, which failed in many respects for the thorough
drainage of the station. The present drainage was not commenced till after the rain had nearly
ceased. It is so managed that all the water will be carried away into a jheel south of the lines,
and no doubt, if the drains are well constructed with good falls, there can be no difficulty in
draining the station in a most satisfactory manner.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.—The working of the conservancy system is the same as
in previous years.
VIII. Water-supply.—The water-supply is abundant, and the quality good.
IX. Diet. —The system of dieting is the same as in all Native regiments. The articles of
food supplied by the regimental buneahs are, as a rule, of good quality and moderate in price,
Vegetables of sorts are very abundant in the cold weather. The men are all well fed.
X. Clothing. —The style of uniform is the same as is worn by other Native infantry regi-
ments, suitable both to climate and the duty the men have to perform. There is one essential
portion of their uniform that may be improved, and that is the present ammunition boot worn
by the Native soldier, the chief cause of so many men coming into hospital for "blister of
feet." This evil could easily be remedied by the issue of a couple of pairs of socks to each man.
XI. Duty and employment. —The duty, since the regiment was quartered here, has been
very light. Continuous nights in bed 9 . 58 in the year.
XII. Exercise, amusements and occupation. —The amusements the men chiefly confine them-
selves to are Native games. They have a very nice piece of ground at each end of the lines
with abundance of water near at hand, where they can start very good gardens indeed;
but none of them care about it, as vegetables are so easily procurable from the bazars at very
cheap rates.
XIII. Marches and services. —The regiment is under orders for Benares, and marches
when relieved by the 40th Native Infantry from the Delhi Camp.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital has been fully described in previous reports, vide 1872-73.
It is kept in good repair, is well ventilated, and has sufficient accommodation for patients.
A dead-house is to be erected near the hospital.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1871
.
Agra, November 1868,
from Dum-Dum.
188.8
1.42
5.78
1872
. Gorakhpur, Oct. 1872 .
282.5
1.47
6.13
1873
.
Ditto ditto .
160.7
1.17
5.44
1874
.
Ditto ditto .
88.7
.43
3.84
1875
.
Ditto ditto .
181.61
.42
5.58
Average
.
180.46
.98
5.35
1876
. Gorakhpur .
.
74.89
.42
2.33