50
Inspection ;
sanitary
defects.
Sanitary im-
provements.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
These 67 men range in age from 17 to 23 years, with an average chest measurement of
32 1/2 inches, ranging from 31 1/2 as the lowest, to 35 as the highest.
Deputy Surgeon-General J. T. C. Ross inspected the hospital on the
14th September 1874. He remarks that the station of Nowgong is much
overgrown : hedges, and trees of officers' compounds require to be lowered and
trimmed. The public latrine was moved a quarter of a mile further back than
it was in 1873 : its distance and difficulty of access is objectionable. Mr.
Ross urges the adoption of the cheap sort of latrine in use at Jubbulpore.
There was much improvement in the state of the lines since 1873 : drainage
was better attended to, and the whole place had a more cared for look ; the site
is low, but the position for surface drainage has been made the most of ; the
trench systen is in use, and well carried out. There is some fine cultivation over
the filled-in trenches. The hospital was clean and in excellent order, but is
distant one-fourth of a mile from the lines : the patients were clean and comfort-
able ; all hospital and medical details were well looked after. Mr. Ross speaks of
the men as being a fine body, and amongst them there were 67 recruits, who
were men of a very good stamp.
Right wing, 20th Madras Native Infantry—Nowgong.
Medical
charge.
Movements.
Topography.
Surgeon Hastings held medical charge of the right wing from the 1st to
8th January ; First Class Apothecary Walker from 9th January to 12th March ;
Surgeon Joseph Backhouse from 13th March to 31st December. This latter
officer furnishes the report.
II. Location and movements.— The head-quarters and five companies arrived in Nowgong,
Bundlekund, on the 6th January 1874, having left Seetabuldee on the 10th December 1873 by
rail to Jubbulpore, where it arrived on the 14th December 1873, and left on the 17th Decem-
ber 1873 by road marches vid Damoh to Nowgong
and Banda, arriving at Nowgong on
the 6th January 1874, and marched out on the 8th January 1874 for Banda, leaving two com-
panies at Nowgong. On the 13th January, the left wing, 15th Madras Native Infantry,
marched out by road stages to Jubbulpore en route to Palaveram, Madras ; on the 10th March
1874 three companies of the 20th Madras Native Infantry arrived in Nowgong from detach-
ment duty, at Seroncha, two companies and one at Chanda, Central Provinces ; on the 12th
March one company marched from Nowgong to Banda, leaving two companies at Nowgong
to complete the right wing.
The Wings have not been changed during the year.
III. Topography and physical geography of the surrounding country and station.— From
the previous topographical descriptions given of this station, and especially the complete and
exhaustive report furnished by Surgeon-Major E. McKellar, M. D., of the 7th Bengal Cavalry,
for 1871, I consider it quite unnecessary to refer to the subject again, but wish to state that
the entire cantonment has very much improved since I first came three years ago.
Lines.
Drainage.
Conservancy.
Water-supply.
Diet.
Clothing.
Duty.
The lines were in a satisfactory condition ; the state of the huts was all
that could be desired, and the men were not overcrowded in them. The
system of having a small latrine attached to each sepoy's hut is most objection-
able, but is considered necessary for the families of the Madras sepoys. The
drainage was good and effective. In the Madras regiments it is customary
to have a small latrine in each court-yard of the sepoy's hut in the lines, and
this system is reported on as " having worked remarkably well." The water-
supply was from wells, of excellent quality, and abundant. The bazar sup-
plies were generally of good quality ; the medical officer considers there
were a few men in the detachment who were underfed because they had too
many relations living on them. The clothing was good and well suited for
the climate, and for the duties of the sepoy. The medical officer recommends
the supply of stockings as a prevention to sore feet from bad fitting boots.
The duty performed by the men during the year has not been excessive, and
has not had a bad effect on their health ; the number of continuous nights
in bed has been 3˚31.
Hospital.
XIV. Hospital.—The state of repair is good with the exception of the roofing, and the doors
are good ; the former is about being placed by the Public Works Department in perfect order.