Health of the
Camp
and
Transport
Corps.
APPENDIX—MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE DUFFLA EXPEDITION.
229
jungle opened it to the air. The sun was only visible for about four or five hours, owing to the
height of the hill to the southward and the density of the forest ; hence, perhaps, our com
parative safety, for experienced survey officers asserted the place would be deadly in May, after
the spring rains and sunshine or heat of that month. It was often very cold ; for eight days
the thermometer at sunrise stood from 38˚ to 34˚ ; there was generally a fog in the night and
early morning, which rendered the cold damp and penetrating. Each day certainly improved the
state of the camp, for all spare hands were engaged in clearing, &c., but to the last it was a
bad and dangerous place, and when, rain began on the 29th, a very miserable one, and one that
told a good deal on the health of officers and men. It was a busy time, however.
The day after arrival, a reconnoissance in force was paid to a village two hours up a hill
to the westward ; on the same day the Assistant Quarter Master General reconnoitred Packfi's
village, a longer walk to the northward. The next day the sappers made their bridge at the
upper end of camp, the 42nd another at the lower. On the 23rd, head-quarters with a strong
party, including the artillery, ascended the hill overlooking Packfi's village, two hours from
camp. The General and staff afterwards went on to the village itself, one hour further. Sub-
sequently, exploring parties went along the Dikrung to find out the road ; and the 42nd
spent some days in water, bridging the river two miles above the camp on the onward
route. Strong working parties were sent to improve the road on both sides of the hill over
No. 5. All these works were important, and, except that working parties were clearing the
ground and making the stockade on the opposite bank, no other present measures could be
taken to move the force over there. The 44th moved across, however, on the 25th, followed
by the sappers, on their return from road-making : the artillery moved on the 28th.
Employment
at No. 6.
The health of the camp deteriorated daily during residence. There were many cases of
bronchitis, but the chief complaints were of the bowels. If dysentery or diarrhœa were not
actually present, there was uneasiness or discomfort felt by nearly every one in camp, officers
and men.
The Transport Corps was organized in companies of 100 men, which were divided into four
sections. To each section there was a " mate" ; to each company a non-commissioned officer of the
regular army ; and an officer was in charge of three companies. They were all this time work-
ing backwards and forwards over the hill, bringing up supplies to place in the stockade. They
suffered in health more than the troops ; their work was not harder, but it was more mono-
tonous. They had been working hard and without any periodical rests since their landing.
Men require at least one day's holiday in the week. Under the pressure and fatigue of the hill
work, there had not been so much care taken as usual in making their sleeping places, and the
damp of the ground came through the leaves, grass, and canvas bags on which they lay. The
want of an extra blanket, or of the missing waterproof sheets, would have saved them some-
what, but the simple plan of raising their bed-places, as the troops did, would have saved them
more. When there were thus local causes for loss of health, other causes operated also. The
want of sun, the cold and damp, the gloom of the shade, the trials of the hill to wind and
limb, all tended to affect men accustomed to bright sun, open clearings, dry bracing air, and
level country. With their ailments came depression ; they began to have a dispirited look.
Bowel complaints began from local causes : depression naturally followed, and hence their pre-
sent and subsequent heavy sick list. They, however, worked well, and kept up as long as they
could without giving in.
28. Field hospital at No. 6.—During the occupation of camp No. 6, the percentage of
sick to strength had increased from 2 . 3 per cent. of the troops to 6 . 3 ; from 5 . 1 per
cent. of the transport to 13 . 5 ; and followers from. 1 . 1 to 2 . 5 per cent. It became necessary,
therefore, to establish a field hospital here, and Surgeon D. O'C. Raye was brought up from
Hurmutti for the charge of it. This hospital would receive the sick of the force now unable to
march with it, and would receive men sent back from the front. Patients would therefore be
saved the march over the hill, which was such a barrier to the transit of sick men. The depôt
hospital and medical stores at Narainpore were placed in charge of Assistant Apothecary
Wilson, and Surgeon Wilson was moved up to Hurmutti.
29. To Camp No. 7.—It rained heavily on the 29th and during the night, and the
weather looked unsettled, but on the 30th December the force marched to No. 7. The 16th
remained behind to garrison the stockade, which had now been completed. A fine, open,
high and dry position had now been made on the left bank, with a few trees left for shade.
The 16th and the field hospital occupied the huts vacated by the artillery, sappers and 44th ;
32 sepoys and 66 of the transport remained behind in hospital. Measures were taken by the
transport to form a new camp on the same side.
Field hospital
at No. 6.
To Camp
No. 7.
The track to No. 7, after a sharp ascent and descent, crossed the bridge made by the 42nd,
and then proceeded along the north bank of the river through thick forest, tolerably level, but
crossing several spurs, and there was a steep ascent to the site of the camp. This was chosen in
an old jhoom, sloping gently to the south in an open, yet sheltered, situation, the village on another
clearing being on a plateau some 300 feet higher. Head-quarters occupied this latter position.
Time on the march 3 hours ; distance 5 miles ; height above the sea 1,815 feet. A driz
zling rain came on after noon, but all were sheltered by evening.
30. To Camp No. 8.—There was a halt on the 31st ; and a bright day in an open and dry
situation did good to everybody. On the 1st January 1875 the force marched for the next
position ; 17 sepoys and 39 transport had to be left behind here sick, in charge of a hospital
assistant, with the guard over the commissariat stores. These were bowel complaints contract-
ed at No. 6. They all joined head-quarters in a few days.
To Camp
No. 8.