Physique.
Cholera
Detachment,
13th Regi
- m e n t N a t i v e Infantry, at
Berhampore.
Hospital.
Station Staff
Dispensary at
Benares.
Medical
charge.
28
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Hospital.
Lock Hos
-pital, Benares.
Medical
charge.
Examination,
Venereal
disease.
too small for the requirements of the regiment, and consequently the men had
to resort to the fields outside the lines. This defect in the latrines is owing to
the cantonment funds which will not admit of a larger supply of screens.
A new hospital on the standard plan is in course of construction, and is
much needed, as the present buildings can only afford very inferior accom
- m a d a t i o n f o r 2 6 p a t i e n t s . T h e s e r v a n t s ' h o u s e s a t t h e h o s p i t a l w e r e n o t i n a
satisfactory condition, as they were not in the list of buildings to be kept in
repair by the Department Public Works.
The physique and general health of the men were excellent, and the recruits
appeared to have been judiciously selected. On the occasion of Dr. Walker's
first inspection, there were two cases of cholera under treatment, and the
entire regiment was ordered out into camp in consequence. All the hospital
details for the care and treatment of the sick were in good working order.
Detachment, 13 th Regiment Native Infantry, at Berhampore. —The Deputy
Surgeon-General of the Presidency Circle made his inspection of this detach
- m e n t o n t h e 1 8 t h F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 6 . T h e h e a d - q u a r t e r s o f t h e r e g i m e n t w a s a t
Benares, and this detachment, of an average strength of 144 men, was stationed
at Berhampore througout the year. The hospital, one of the old European
infantry barracks, is described as being very conveniently situated for the lines,
and affords very good accommodation for the sick. All the men off duty were
inspected, and Mr. Cockburn reports that he found them in fairly good health
and condition.
Lock Hospital, Benares. —The lock-hospital for Benares Cantonment was
inspected by Deputy Surgeon-General J. P. Walker, M. D., on the 11th
January 1876. Dr. Walker reports that the building and all sanitary
arrangements were in a satisfactory condition.
Surgeon-Major A. M. Verchere of the 13th Regiment Bengal Infantry
had been in charge of the lock-hospital since 1873, but on the day of the
Deputy Surgeon-General's inspection was absent with his regiment in cholera
camp, and on this occasion Surgeon-Major G. Whitla was acting for him.
The examination of the prostitutes was held twice a month by the medical
officer, but certain women (as explained by him) were subjected to weekly
examinations. It is stated that very few of the women absent themselves
from the examinations; 3 per cent. being the average number of absentees.
The hospital was clean and tidy, and all the details for the proper treatment of
the patients were satisfactory. There was an average of 97 women borne on
the register during the year, and a daily average number in hospital of 17.10,
or at the rate of 17 per cent. of average strength.
Amongst the European troops there were admissions from venereal diseases
at the rate of 34 per cent. of mean strength, and Dr. Walker remarks that
it is very doubtful whether this percentage would have been exceeded if there
had been no lock-hospital in the station; but he adds that these unsatisfactory
results do not arise from any want of proper supervision on the part of the
medical officer in charge, who has tried to improve them to the utmost of
his power.
Recommenda
-tions.
The medical officer made the following recommendations to the canton-
ment committee in his annual report for 1875: 1st, an increase of the lock-
hospital special police; 2nd, an extension of the lock-hospital area to the
artillery and musketry practice camps at Sultanpore and Hurrowa, while troops
are out there; and 3rd, a system of modified registration for the city and suburbs
of Benares. The Cantonment Committee recommended the adoption of the first
and second suggestions, but could not agree regarding the proposals in the third.
Station Staff Dispensary at Benares.—This dispensary was inspected by
the Deputy Surgeon-General of the Allahabad Circle on the 11th January
1876. Surgeon-Major A. M. Verchere was Staff Surgeon during the entire year
of 1875, but as he had to go with his regiment into cholera camp, he was
not present on the date of Dr. Walker's inspection. Surgeon-Major G. Whitla,
of the Army Medical Department, officiated as Staff Surgeon during
Mr. Verchere's absence. The Deputy Surgeon-General found all the arrange-
ments for dispensing medicines in this dispensary in good working order, and
the hospital assistant was well reported on.