9
PRESIDENCY DISTRICT.
38th (The Agra) Regiment Native Infantro- Barrackpore.
I. Medical Officer.—Surgeon W. M. Courtney held medical charge
throughout the year.
Medical officer.
YEAR.
S T A T I O N .
P E R CE NT . OF S T R E NGT HY.
Admissions. Deaths.
Daily sick.
1872
Fyzabad, November 1868
1 2 1 . 9
1 . 6
2 . 9
1873
Baxa Duar, Bhutan, March 1873
1 3 7 . 3
7 . 1
7 . 5
1874
Baxa Duar, Bhutan March 1873.
1 5 0 . 7
3 . 7
1 0 . 6
1875
Baxa Duar, Bhutan, March 1873, up to November, and then on the march.
1 3 6 . 9 6
1 . 6 4
5 . 4 4
1876
Head-quarters at Barrackpore; detachment at Dum, January 1876
3 6 6 . 4
3 . 4 8
8 . 3 2
Average
1 8 2 . 2 5
3 . 5
6 . 9 5
1877
Barrackpore
2 5 4 . 4 8
1 2 . 4 4
1 0 . 2 7
II. Location and movements.—
The regiment was stationed at
Barrackpore from the 1st Janu-
ary to 31st December 1877. A
detachment of an average strength
of 104.5 was quartered at Dum-
Dum in January, February and
March, and was relieved every
month.
V. Lines, barracks and lints.—
Four of the old thatched barracks
were dismantled and replaced by
four tiled mud structures. They
afford 60 superficial and 695
cubic feet per man, and are much
larger than the old barracks. They
are well ventilated, and the floors
are raised. All the jemadars'
and subadars' huts were re-built ;
they are constructed of mud walls,
with tiled roofs. A new tiled
gymnasium was also built. The
Location and.
novements.
Lines, barracks and huts.
New barracks.
lines are rather limited in space, and the site is an unhealthy one, for the reasons which will
be given further on.
VI. Drainage.— The drainage is defective, and this was several times brought to notice,
but without any improvement. Several recommendations on this head were made during the
year by a station committee, but none of them appear to have been adopted. It was proposed
to drain that portion of the station to the north-east where the lines are situated, by a cutting
running south-east towards the tank near Government House;but up to the present time no
further steps have been taken in the matter. There is reason to suppose that the defective drain-
age of the surface, and the stiff clay which causes the sub-soil water to be retained, have some-
thing to do with the present sickness of the regiment.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.—To the north of the lines there are two brick latrines
covered with corrugated iron. Each contains a double row of twelve seats. Onnztaks are
used. The filth is mixed with dry earth; then carted away, and buried in trenches some dis-
tance from the lines. The dry-earth system is partly in use. There are eight line and five
station sweepers. The dry-earth system is not carried out in the hospital latrines; there the excreta
are collected in an iron receptacle, and afterwards the contents are carried away in a Crowley's
conservancy cart. The dry-earth system is not practicable, as no provision will be sanctioned
for the proper drying of the earth.
VIII. Water-supply.— Filtered pipe water from the Munirampore water-works is used by
the men, who areallowed to procure it from the artillery lines, but the supply is limited, and
the sepoys are inconvenienced in having to go such a distance far it. It appears absurd that
'pure pipe water should be allowed to flow through the centre of cantonments, and that no
provision should be made for an adequate supply to the native troops at Barrackpore. A
branch pipe could be very easily laid on to the lines, and a free supply of good water given.
This matter has been several times brought to notice, but without effect. Some time ago
application was made to Government for a cart to supply water to the native troops in their
lines,lut this was not sanctioned. When pipe water will be supplied, as so often recom-
mended,a great boon will have been conferred which cannot fail to be appreciated.
IX and X. Dieting and clothing.— The dieting and clothing were described last year. There
does not appear to have been much underfeeding. In a few cases where men where found de-
priving themselves of a proper amount of food, their compensation for dearness of' provisions was
disallowed. In most cases it was found that when men came to hospital suffering from the
effects of repeated attacks of ague, or with chronic enlargement of the spleen, or from
anaemia and debility, the result of progressive malarial cachexia, they had lost all desire for
food, and with great difficulty could they be induced to take twice a day a few ounces of
sago or arrowroot cooked with milk. Medical comforts, in the way of sago, arrowroot, brandy,
rum and port wine, were freely given to bad cases. Blankets and pillows were supplied to the
recruits who, when coming to hospital, might be found in want of those articles. The boots
and shoes supplied to the regiment caused a less number of admissions for blisters of the feet
than during the previous year, in the proportion of 69: to 95, some of the men wear native-
made shoes. The above number of admissions is far in excess of what it should be, where
men have to perform only their ordinary routine duties in garrison. On the march, or on
active service, this would be of grave importance. Although several styles of boots or shoes
C
Drainage,
Defects an
d proposals.
Conservaney
and latrines.
Water-supply.
Deficient
supply.
Dieting and
clothing.
?remotions
against
underfeeding.
Boots..