ALLAHABAD DIVISION.
Meteorology
and climate.
Lines,
barracks and
huts.
Drainage.
Conservancy.
Water.
Food.
Clothing.
Duty and
employment.
Exercise, &c,
The march.
Hospital.
to. The regiment was healthy. Dr. Hutchinson observed a number of goitrous
men and women in the vicinity of the station, and ascertained that cretins
(baods ) were common. They are said to intermarry and reproduce their species.
The Gorakhpur detachment was inspected on the 10th, and the Benares
detachment on the 24th of December. Both were comfortably housed, and
their medical wants properly looked after. The sick of both detachments are
treated in the hospital of the Infantry Regiment.
1st Regiment Native
I n f a n t r y — B e n a r e s .
Medical Officer.
I. Medical Officer.—Surgeon A. McM. Paterson held medical charge of
the regiment throughout
the year.
Location and
movements.
II. Location and movements. —
The head-quarters of the
regi-ment were quartered during the
year at Benares, with detachment
at Benares for the early part of
the year and then at Chunar for
the rest of the year. The regi-
ment marched from Gorakhpur
on the 4th, and arrived at Benares
on the 15th March 1877. The
detachment at Chunar is relieved
every month.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1872
. Gorakhpur, October 1872
2 8 2 . 5
1.47
6.13
1873
.
Ditto
.
160.7 ' 1.17
5.44
1874
. Ditto
8 8 . 7
. 4 3
3.84
1875
. Ditto
.
181.61
. 4 2
5.58
1876
. Ditto
74.89
. 4 2
2.33
Average
.
. .
157.68
. 7 8
4.66
1877
.Benares March 1877 .
97.56
1.28
2.74
IV. Meteorology and climate. —This year the temperature was high, with hot westerly
winds, and the amount of rainfall small, as compared with other years. The river did not
rise to its usual height in consequence.
V . L i n e s , b a r r a c k s a n d h u t s . — O n a r r i v a l o f t h e r e g i m e n t , t h e l i n e s w e r e i n a b a d s t a t e o f
repair, and were considered by the Station Committee as dangerous for habitation; however, they
have been since repaired. There are still great fears that during the heavy rains some of the
huts may not stand. Each man gets 405 cubic feet of space and 40½ square feet of area,
not a very liberal allowance of space per man. The lines are well shaded by trees. There
are some villages situated on the west of the lines occupied by dirty people of low caste, just
out of the limits of cantonment.
Drainage is said to be efficient, and the trench system of conservancy works
well. The ground available for it is, however, limited, and a temporary latrine
on the dry-earth system had to be constructed. The erection of urinals has
been recommended, but the measure is delayed for want of funds.
The supply of water, from wells, is good and abundant, and precautions
are adopted to prevent contamination. The bazar supplies were good and
ample during the year. They are regularly inspected. Vegetables are plentiful.
The men seem all well nourished, and no attempt at underfeeding is permitted; they are
now, since the increase of pay, better able to procure extras for themselves.
X. Clothing.—The issue of socks to the men would be a great boon, and prevent the
numerous cases of "blister of feet" that are continually coming to hospital. The men are
well provided with native clothing.
XI. Duty and employment. —The duty during the year was light—ordinary guards and
parades. The number of continuous nights in bed 7.25.
XII. Exercise, amusements and occupation.—The only kind of exercise or amusement the
sepoy goes in for is wrestling, or some other native game. No gardening.
A detailed description of the march is given. It commenced on 4th and
terminated on 15th March. The weather was hot, and there were frequent
thunder-storms, accompanied with wind and rain. Nothing appears to have
occurred to compromise the health of the men.
XIV. Hospital. —The present building is quite new, and only occupied for the first time
by this regiment. It is a well-raised and commodious structure, situated near the European
hospital, about a mile from the lines. The drainage about the vicinity of the hospital is perfect.
The hospital is a pucka building constructed on the standard plan—lofty, well-ventilated, with a
window between each door, and sufficient space for the number of patients required to be accom-
modated on all ordinary occasions. The cots are all in good repair and sufficient; one end
of the hospital is made use of as a bath-room. A dead-house also had been built since arrival
of the regiment. The well in the compound is in good order, and the water of good quality
and abundant. The sides are well protected, so that the water may not be polluted from with-
out. The lighting is as usual by ordinary lamps, one in each ward. No doubt the issue of