234
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
•
Carriage for
41. Carriage for the sick : litters.—Doolies were not taken with the force. It was arranged
the sick :
in Calcutta that six litters and six dandis should be used. The dandi was a piece of car-
litters.
petting slung on a bamboo. The litters were, however, only 51 feet long ; and it was recom-
mended that as they were of simple structure and cheaply made, new ones, 6 feet long at least,
should be given. At Narainpore it was found that only the litters had been brought, and that.
their length had not been altered. If they had been required, their shortness would have rend-
ered them uncomfortable carriage for an officer, or for the majority of the soldiers.
This litter or stretcher was like a ship's cot slung on a bamboo, with four short iron legs to
keep it off the ground. It was not adapted for a real steep hill-side with the sharp corners of
small zigzags to turn.
On the only occasion when the litters were employed—the withdrawal of the sick from
No. 6 camp to the rear—they were found useless in descending the hill to No. 4; and they
were only got along by assistance being given at the sides.
Bamboo
42. Bamboo stretcher.—It was always intended to use a stretcher made of bamboo, should
stretcher. there be occasion. This stretcher consists of a frame-work of split bamboo suspended in the usual
manner to a bamboo pole by short pieces of cane. This is light and firm and does not sway ; it
stands shocks and jerks, and can be made on the spot in the jungles of this part of the country.
One only was required for the transport of a cooly who had broken his leg ; it proved most suc-
cessful over the hill when the litters failed. • It is now deposited as a pattern in the Medical
Depot, Calcutta.
Clothing.
43. Clothing.—Every native soldier and mustered follower received the articles named
in the mar gin free.
pair „ English h boots, ammunition.
b
Soldier's
Soldier's clothing. Boots.—The boots served
I
clothing.
Soldiers
„ leg bandages, cloth.
• out were of the old pattern, privates, cavalry,
Boots.
„ kookri or 1 dao.
with buckle and strap. .They answered well, for
water-proof sheet.
sore feet were rare; yet the constant wetting and
•
pair native shoes.
rough roads were trying tests ; the pace, however,
lanket jacket.
was always slow. They looked uncomfort-
blanket.
able. The strap does not cause the top part to
Followers... I havresack.
1 pair cloth leg bandages.
I
fit round the ankle; even with socks or the band-
1 kookri or 1 dao.
ages there was no clasp there, and the foot slipped.
water-proof sheet. about inside. In going down steep hills, most of
the men carried their boots in band. Some officers provided themselves with the new pattern
private's ammunition boot that laces, and there could not be a better boot. Lacing is not so
suited to a native as a European ; they will not take the trouble. Officers prefer the buckle
for the men, as laces are often breaking and are generally laced carelessly. The boot question
for the Native Army is still an undecided one.
Ammunition boots of Cawnpore manafacture, to
lace, or buckle, are worn by a great majority of
the Army. There is Tarely any fitting to the feet.
I believe, from some cause or other, that the
English boot does not cause foot galls in nearly
the same proportion as the Cawnpore boot. I
think the best boot for the Native Army would
be the English ammunition with one double strap
to buckle, as shown in the margin.
Socks. Socks.—I think two pairs should. be provided ; or if the extra pairs would add too much to
the weight or kit, there should be some means whereby a man could replace a worn out pair.
It should be specified also that socks should be woollen, and of English make. The regiments
were supplied with one pair of English cotton socks that did not last a fortnight. On inspecting
the .sappers and artillery at Fort William, cotton socks were found being served out to them.
The Clothing Agent was good enough, however, to change them for worsted. There were none
to be had in the Calcutta bazaars, and a hundred pair were procured by favor from the Quar-
ter Master's stores of the 3rd Foot. These lasted comparatively well.
Leg bandages.
Leg bandages.—These were most useful, and very necessary in this particular country.
Their use was
u
reconised by the sepoys. Many of the followers who shirked the trouble of
g.
puttin them on suffered severely from the bites of a small fly—the pipsi—which eventually
turned into troublesome sores on the legs. They were supplied by the Clothing Agent of
khaki or blue cloth. Officers and men preferred them to leather gaiters. A little practice is
required to put them on, so that they should not slip down.'
Water-proof
Trater-proof sheets.—These proved very useful, but the supply was not general, as will be
sheets. noted under C
g.
Clothin for Followers.' New ones were served. out to the sappers and 42nd.
The 44th had their old'ones; artillery 16th, and. 43rd had none. They were used chiefly to put
over the roofs of huts during rain ; or marching in rain to cover the person by gathering.up
and tying one end and putting over the head, thus saving clothes and accoutrements. They
were also• lain on in dry weather and kept the wind from coming through the raised sleeping
places of bamboo.
The Government sheet was . 6' 9" x 4' and weighed 44 Ms., with eyelet holes round..
Many officers had the same size ; but on another occasion I should prefer a sheet of lighter
material 8' or 10' x 7', so that it could form a shelter for a bed by itself.