sufficient and inappropriate. Tents have annually to be used, to supplement
the defective accommodation. A requisition for a new hospital, which appears
absolutely necessary, has been submitted. The hospital occupied by the 5th
Madras Native Infantry at Saugor is obviously unsuited to its purpose, and a
new building is needed. The hospital arrangements of the 2nd Bengal Cavalry
were defective while the regiment was cantoned at Fyzabad, ‫٭‬ but as the
corps has now moved to Segowlie, the remarks made in the report of the
medical officer cease to apply. A new hospital, much required, has not yet
been provided for the 36th Native Infantry at Agra, though its erection was
in the last report said to have been sanctioned. The hospital occupied by the
17th Native Infantry at Morar is pronounced to be irremediably bad. The
remarks recorded last year regarding the hospitals of the Punjab Fron-
tier still apply, that of the Guides at Murdan being exceptionally inappropriate.
In some stations, such as Mooltan and Meerut, tents had to be pitched for the
accommodation of an exceptionally large number of sick—an easy and sufficient
arrangement. The hospital arrangements for the cavalry at Nowgong have
been improved. The new hospital for the cavalry at Saugor gives satisfaction.
The new hospital for the 2nd Goorkhas at Dehra Doon has been commenced, and
more appropriate arrangements have been made for the accommodation of the
native sick of the Sappers and Miners at Roorkee. The hospital arrangements
for the 21st Punjab Native Infantry at Rawulpindee (page 135), and the 43rd
Assam Light Infantry at Shillong (page 189), may be pointed to as very
complete and worthy of imitation.
Tents.
New hospitals.
26. Medical officers comment on the existence or want of various hos-
pital accessories which fulfil an important function in medical arrangements.
The most prominent of these are quarters for hospital subordinates
and servants, arrangements for isolating special cases, and dead-houses. It is suffi
cient here to remark that the advantage of these is fully recognised, and that
the attention of local authorities is drawn to the expediency of providing them
where they do not exist. Bath-rooms have now, in accordance with G. O. No.
365, dated 28th November 1873, been. provided and fitted. Opinions vary
somewhat as to their utility and popularity with the sepoys, and the want of
a sufficiency of firewood for the preparation of hot-baths is pointed out by
some officers. There can be no doubt from the evidence that these bath-rooms
fulfil an important purpose, more especially in the treatment of cutaneous
diseases.
Hospital
out-houses.
Bath-rooms.
27. Expedients for the promotion of the comfort of patients find a con-
spicuous place in these reports, and are deserving of special notice and encour-
agement. They have principally for their object protection from the heat of
the sun by means of verandahs and trees ; protection from cold by means of
warm hospital clothing, bedding, and fires ; from dust and glare by means of
chicks and purdahs ; a combination of warmth and cheerfulness by means of
glass doors and windows, and the destruction of vermin. The efforts made by
regimental authorities to provide warm bedding for recruits and others unable
to afford it and to supply means of warming hospitals when Government has
not yet sanctioned such provision, though in the judgment of the medical
authorities desirable and necessary, are deserving of the highest commendation.
Surgeon-Major J. J . Clarke records on page 49 some remarks on the need of
revising the establishments of native cavalry hospitals, which are worthy
of consideration.
Hospital
comforts.
Bedding.
Cavalry
hospitals.
28. The particular diseases to which the sickness and mortality of the
native army have been due in 1874 are shown in detail in table No. II, and
the prevalence of the most common and fatal diseases exhibited in Statements
Nos. X and XI, in comparison with the results of the preceding year :—
‫٭‬ A temporary arrangement caused by the famine, and therefore unforeseen.
Diseases
causing sick
-ness and
mortality.