Lines, bar
-
racks and huts.
New lines.
Drainage.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Diet.
Clothing.
Duty and
employment.
Exercises, &c.
Marches, &c.
26
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Location and
movements.
Topography.
Meteorology.
II. Location and movements.— One squadron rejoined bead-quarters here on the 23rd
February from Barrackpore, having been on the march since the commencement of the
year. The head-quarters and remainder of the regiment have been stationed at Cawnpore
throughout the year. A. small detachment of men (31) have been on escort duty with the
Lieutenant-Governor, North-Western Provinces, since the 26th November, and are still away.
III. Topography.— The station of Cawnpore, and the situation of the lines, &c., of the
1st Bengal Cavalry, have been fully described and treated of in former annual reports; and the
evils mentioned by Surgeon Major McKellar in his report last year, as arising from the proxi
-
mity of the native city and the Budder bazar to the cantonment, still exist.
IV. Meteorology.— The rains set in early, and continued rather longer
than the average time. The year was considered a healthy one for the regiment,
and any sickness there was, was generally of a mild type.
V. Lines, barracks and huts.— The regiment occupied its old lines, and
in them there was not any overcrowding.
New lines were built for one squadron, and were occupied on the return of
the squadron from Barrackpore. The bazar is small, narrow and crowded ; the
huts of the camp followers, alluded to in last year's report, have been
repaired.
VI. Drainage.— Appears to be effective and satisfactory in all respects.
VII. Conservancy and Latrines.— The trench system is still in operation, but answers
only partially. It decidedly failed during the wet season. About one-fourth of the regiment
seem to avail themselves of these screens ; but as the lines are so situated as readily to permit
of the men resorting to the open country beyond cantonments for the purposes of nature,
this unwillingness to adopt the newer system is of less importance.
Watter-supply.
Hospital.
VIII. Water-supply.— The water-supply is from wells, and is abundant
and of good quality. The horses are washed outside the lines, and all
clothing is washed in the Ganges.
IX. Diet.—The bazar supplies have been good, and ample in quantity. The regiment is
almost entirely composed of Mussulmans, who, for the most part, as far as practicable, eat meat.
X. Clothing.— The men left off their warm woollen clothing towards the end of March.
It was resumed at nights towards the end of September, and throughout the day from the
second week of November.
XI. Duty and employment.— The usual parades and regimental work, with light orderly
duties in the station. Average nights in bed 11.17.
XII. Exercises, &c.— The men amuse themselves by practising tent-pegging, lime-cut
-
&c., and are encouraged to practise athletic exercises of different kinds.
XIII. Marches, &c.— One squadron marched from Barrackpore towards the close of last
year, and reached this station on the 23rd February. A small detachment (31 men) left on
the 26th November to escort the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Western Provinces on
his tour, and is still so employed. No other movements have occurred.
XIV. Hospital.— The hospital, a pucca building, on the standard plan, with ample
accommodation for 18 patients, has been often described in previous reports. The roof has been
repaired, and was water-tight during the last rainy season. The chicks for verandahs,
indented for on the 1st January 1874, have not yet been supplied. These, as also the jhamps
indented for on April 1st, are much wanted.
Sickness,
mortality, and
invaliding.
XV. Sickness, mortality, and invaliding.— Strength of the regiment— present 372.72,
a bsent 83.25, total 455.97.
PERIOD.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
From
To
Strength. Admis-
sions.
Deaths,
average
number
of sick.
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
Daily
average
sick.
Head-quarters at Cawnpore . . . 1st Jan.
1874.
31st Dec.
1874.
354.81
267
1
9.61
75.25
.28
2.71
Detachment at Barrackpore . . .
"
23rd Feb.
1874.
125.77
45
. . .
1.17 241.83
. . .
.93
TOTAL . . .
. . . . . .
372.72
312
1
10.78
83.71
.27
2.89
Number of deaths in hospital, 1; out of hospital, 3; total, 4; per cent. of total strength . . . 0.89
" i n v a l i d e d , . . . 1 4 ; p e r c e n t . o f t o t a l s t r e n g t h . . . 3.07
"
"
s e n t
o n s i c k l e a v e , . . . .
7 ; " "
1.53
" of days spent in hospital, 3,936; per admission 12.61; per man of total strength . . . 8.63
" " on sick leave, 927 ; per man 132.42; . . . 2.03
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength . . . 1 0 . 6 6