PRESIDENCY DISTRICT
.
9
The medical officer reported that the recruits and short-service,
men there was a tendency to debility, anæmia, and scurvy ; but great pains
were taken to ensure a proper consumption of food on the part of the men,
and the commanding officer had taken measures for a sufficient supply of
vegetables. Lime-juice and rum were issued to those who had any scorbutic
taint, with great benefit. The Deputy Surgeon-General thinks that the drinking
water, which contains more organic matter and chlorides than are consistent
with purity, may be one of the causes contributing to debility and scurvy. Dr.
Duncan had to abandon all attempts at purifying the water for hospital use,
as the sepoys refused to drink it.
The hospital is a capacious, well-ventilated building. Medical arrange
-ments were satisfactory, with the exception that the poisons were not kept
separate from the other medicines.
39th (The Allygurh) Regiment, Aative I nfantry,—Barrackpore and Alipore.
Surgeon W. Gilligan was attached from 1st January to 17th Feb-
ruary, since when Sur--
geon-Major J.B.S.Brown
has officiated in medical
charge; and writes the
report.
The head-quarters
having marched from
Jhansi on 27th Decem
-ber 1873 arrived at Cawn
-pore on the 13th Janu
- a r y . F r o m C a w n p o r e t h e
regiment proceeded by
train, and arrived on the
fourth day at Serampore,
where the river Hooghly
was crossed in boats. The regiment had left detachments at Jhansi, Sipri,
and Lalitpur, in Central India ; they united at Jhansi, and the combined
detachments started thence on 26th February and arrived at Barrackpore
on 19th March 1874.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT OF STRENGTH.
Admissions.
Deaths. Daily sick.
1869 . . .
Lucknow, March 1867
from Assam . . .
7 5 .
. 8
2.1
1870 . . .
Jhansi, December 1869
102.2
2.1
4. 2
1871 . . .
Ditto ditto . . .
101.7
1.4
3.4
1872 . . .
Ditto ditto . . .
130.4
2.1
3.9
1873 . . .
Ditto ditto . . .
205.03
.86
7.06
Average . . .
. . . 122.8
1.06
4.1
1874
Barrackpore, January
1874 . . .
221.6
1. 8
7.8
Right Wing, Alipore,
April 1874 . . .
Medical
Officers.
Location and
movements.
The rainfall is reported to have been above the average, the heaviest
rainfall in any one month, 14.9 inches, being in October.
The barracks are reported on as being very suitable buildings, built of
burnt bricks and thatched, and the floor is raised 1½ to 2 feet above the level
of the surrounding ground. Every due precaution is taken against accident by
fire. The drainage is reported as being quite satisfactory. The trench system
of latrines is used and answer very well : persons resorting to the trenches are
concealed from view by screens of corrugated iron ; these screens are very
efficient, but are very heavy. The water-supply is still taken from the tanks ;
the project of supplying water to the station from Monirampore seems to have
been given up sine die. The food. supplies are sufficiently abundant, and the
clothing according to season. The duties have consisted of ordinary parades,
guards, and orderly duties which have not proved in any way detrimental
to the health of the men.
Surgeon-Major Brown calls attention to the insufficient accommodation
for the guards at Ishapore and Fultah.
Meteorology .
Barracks.
Drainage.
Conservancy.
Water-supply .
Diet and
clothing.
Duties.
Guards .
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital is one large ward, 118 feet long by 32 broad. The roof
is thatched, and is supported by 16 pillars. It gives ample accommodation for 39 men.
The plinth is raised from 1½ to 2 feet from the ground ; the floor is tiled. consider it
in every way well suited for the purposes required. It is well ventilated and cool, in very
fair repair, and clean.
Hospital.
c