Hospital
Bath-room.
Fever.
Location and
movements.
Detachments.
Subsoil water
level.
Meteorology.
Effect of the
heavy rain
fall.
Huts.
Ventilation.
87
MEERUT DIVISION.
too small, they are not roofed, and the place is badly drained. The want of con
-servancy carts is also a great defect. There is no room for carrying out the
trench system of latrines, but, with improvements, the present system might
work satisfactorily. As regards the hospital, Dr. Smith agrees with his predecessor
in the propriety of removing the batten doors and substituting glass doors. Huts
for the treatment of infectious diseases are required. A portion of each verandah
had been partitioned off as a bath-room. On the day of inspection all the hospi
-tal arrangements were found in a satisfactory state. The regiment had suf
-fered much from malarious fever, but not so much as the 5th Native Infantry,
owing, it is believed, to the better physique of the men and their shorter
residence in the station. There are a convalescent list and a list of "line duty"
men in the regiment. Dr. Smith very properly considers that all men really
sick should be shown as such in the hospital return.
5th Regiment Native Infantry—Meerut.
Surgeon-Magor R.H Perkin was in charge from 1st January to 20th
April, and from 12th Novem
-ber till the end of the year.
During his absence on sick
leave, Surgeon E. Palmer
was in charge of the regi
-ment. The annual report
has been furnished by the
former.
II. Location and movements .—
The regiment was at the camp of
exercise, Kuroondee, near Roor -
kee, or on the return march to
Meerut, till the 11th of January.
A detachment (depôt) with an
average strength of 258, was at
Meerut during the absence of the regiment at the camp, and a wing was detached to Umballa
to relieve the 32nd Punjab Pioneer Regiment, from the 5th March to the 15th November.
The average strength of the wing was 236.6, but 289 men were originally sent to Umballa.
III. Topography .—In last year's report the subsoil water level was referred to. Its having
gradually risen is now a well ascertained fact.
I am able, through the courtesy of Surgeon-Major W. Moir, in civil medical charge, to
give the following recorded observations:—
Distance of level of the sub-soil water on 30th November 1869, was 12 feet 2.21 inches;
on 30th November 1873, it was 10 feet 5.29 inches;
on 30th November 1874, 7 feet 7.79 inches only.
There can hardly be a doubt that a water-logged soil and generally defective drainage have
been the chief factors in the generation of the prevalent malarious sickness of the last few years.
IV. Meteorology .—Heavy rain fell in June, July, August and September, on the 13th
of which month, the rains ceased, and there was no appreciable fall again before the close of the
year.
The regiment at Meerut, considering the weakly state of the men, who had suffered from
the prevalent fever of 1873, was tolerably healthy during the early and dry months of the
year, but, with the rainfall of July, came a rate of admission for fever which increased till it
reached, during the week ending 18th September, about the time of the cessation of the rains,
over 18 per cent. of the strength Present.
V. Lines, barracks &c.—The huts at Meerut have been in good repair, but, at Umballa,
their state was unfavorably commented on by the officer in medical charge.
The ventilation of the huts at Meerut has been improved by "opening out" the compart
-ment walls, so as to allow of a more free play of the east and west winds.
YEAR.
STATION.
PERCENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions
Deaths. Daily sick.
1869 Benares, January 1868,
from Dacca . . .
104.9
1.4
5 .
1870
Do. do. . . .
110.1
.8
5 .
1871
Do. do. . . .
101.5
.7
3.5
1872 Meerut November 1872
173.7
.8
4 .
1873
Do.Do.
241.1
.9
5.4
Average.
146.2
.9
4.6
1874
Meerut.
250.
1.9
5.4
and
Convalescent
list.
Medical
charge.
No change has taken place during the year in regard to drainage, conser
-vancy, or water-supply. Food supplies are reported to have been abundant and
cheap.
X. Clothing .—The " head dress, so unfavorably commented on in former reports, has
been changed for a serviceable puggree, with great advantage to both the comfort and appear
-rance of the men.
Drainage &c.
Clothing.