250 MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
sleep: to remain on the banks of the river would be hurtful. In the hot weather the vessel
might be moored in the stream away from the bank.
13. Personal cleanliness should be looked after. Healthy men should bathe daily, unless
it is against their habits; a safe place for bathing and washing should be provided. Clothes
should be washed two or three times a week at least, or as often as practicable. It may be
requisite even to stop the vessel an hour or two for this purpose.
14. Twelve superficial feet of space is allowed for each adult, exclusive of hospital space,
gangways, hatches, decks opposite latrines, space for crew and attendants, &c. The men must
be propery arranged at night, and all crowding and huddling together prevented. They
should generally lie with their heads towards centre of vessel. There will, generally, be a free
deck space between the lines of men of from eight to twelve feet, according to the breadth of
the vessel. The ventilation at night should be attended to. Care should be taken that the
men are sufficiently covered at night. Men might be exercised on deck during the day.
Screens for hospital are better placed aft and on an upper deck, Hospital space is given
for five per cent. of sick at 24 superficial feet per man.
15. It is directed that Flats are to have a canvas curtain for enclosing the deck space,
hanging from roof to deck, with ventilating space under the eaves above, but fastening when
down close to the deck below; a boarding one foot high rising from the plank-sheer of the vessel,
and netting, or some defence, from plank to rail above. Lanterns should burn all night in the
dispensary and near privies and gangways, and on the decks.
16. Accidents should be guarded against; the railings of all exposed places, such as the
side of the vessel, near hatches, ladders, bathing places, latrines, communication and landing
stages, &c., should be examined from time to time. The presence of life buoys should be
ascertained. Men should not be allowed to draw water over the side of the vessel when it is
in motion.
17. Latrines, with canvas screens in front, are fitted as far aft as possible: cabooses are
placed as far forward of latrines as space will admit. These offices should be sufficient in
number. Two tubs kept filled with water should be close to the latrines.
18. The drinking water should be carefully attended to. Two 400-gallon tanks with
covers are generally on board: a constant supply should be kept up in them: they should be
used alternately, allowing the water to settle after the addition of six grains of alum to
the gallon. Water to fill the tanks while on the voyage should be taken as far forward as
possible. Water is not, however, stored when that of the rivers is considered of good quality
and clear. Good water should be used for cooking.
Every effort should be made to prevent the men from drinking the river water fresh
drawn from the side of the vessel, unless it is known to be good. If muddy water is drank,
it acts as an irritant.
19. Food issued should be inspected from time to time, and any complaints attended to.
Care must be exercised that the men do not over-eat themselves, or use food that they are
unaccustomed to.
The men in each vessel should be made as comfortable as circumstances admit; and care should
be taken that the arrangements for food, cleanliness, &c., &c., are systematically carried out.
There is on board a stock of medicines, hospital necessaries and comforts, bazar medicines,
and disinfectants for the medical wants of the men during the probable duration of the voyage
of fifteen days.
20. During any railway journey, it should be noted that each man is allowed four
superficial feet of space, and that not more than sixty should be in each carriage. The men
should not want for food; there should be a supply of good water; and a short stoppage
should be arranged for at each station to permit men who require to get out to do so.
J. T. C. R.
D. E. No. 48, CALCUTTA, 12TH OCTOBER 1874.
Memorandum to medical opens on sanitation of marches and camps,
&c.
1. Attention should be given to all temporary encamping places; the features of the
country must always determine their situation.
The site of a standing camp should be high and dry, or at all events not liable to be
flooded during rain; and it should be levelled as far as practicable. The general surface drainage
should be attended to and improved if necessary. Proximity to the water-supply is desirable.
Slopes of hills are good, provided they do not overlook swampy land; all proximity to swamps
should be avoided. Marshy land is always dangerous, except when a sufficient belt of forest or
brushwood intervenes. The bottoms of hills or gorges, or where two hill slopes trend, are
objectionable. Plateaus but little elevated above undrained land are not desirable; the plain
itself is better if it be dry. Open sites are generally the best in a malarious country,
especially where surrounded by trees at a sufficient distance. Ground recently cleared of
high reed or grass jungle is not generally safe to encamp on. The neighbourhood of high
coarse grass jungle should be avoided. Jungle or long grass in the camp itself should
be cleared away, unless a damp surface would be exposed. Brushwood in the vicinity should
not be too much cleared unless it interferes with ventilation.
2. Cleanliness of camps or huts should be ensured by the passages being regularly swept;
holes surrounded by a screen should be conveniently placed for urination; refuse collected morning
and evening and burnt; it is better to select spots or receptacles for such collection. Places
should be set apart for cooking purposes. The smoke from wood-fires is healthy in camp at night.
3. The water-supply requires particular care. In standing camps, if its character is
doubtful, arrangements will be detailed for boiling, or for its rough filtration. If it is from