20
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Topography.
Meteorology
and climate.
Lines and
huts.
Descriptive o
the new lines
Dimensions
buts.
Ventilation.
Drainage.
. .
Conservancy.
Latrines.
III. Topography.—The lines of the 16th Bengal Cavalry are built to the north of the station
proper, a b o u t 3 ½ m i l e s f r o m t h e r a i l w a y s t a t i o n , a n d o n t h e p e n i n s u l a , w h o s e w e s t , n o r t h a n d
east sides are in succession washed by the Ganges, as it flows to join the Jumna near
Fort, Allahabad. The soil seems to consist of sand overlying clay, with a thin stratum of
kunkur over it . ; and it is intersected by nullahs of various depths, which serve as surface
drains.
IV. Meteorology and climate.—The year was remarkable, meteorologically, for its long
continued hot weather, and for the scanty rainfall. The climate was not at all unhealthy in
consequence : rather the reverse. I append the principal meteorological facts obtained from
the Meteorological Office at Allahabad:—
-
Meteorological summary of the year 1877 at Allahabad,—
Mean
barometric
pressure.
Absolute
range.
Daily mean
tempera-ture,&c.
Highest
maximum.
Absolute
range.
No. of
rain fell,
Rainfall.
No.of rainy days in 1876. Monthly rainfull in 1876.
January
2 8 " . 8 0 5
0 " . 3 7 5
6 1 º . 6 '
7 7 º . 9 '
3 5 º . 4 '
5
2.01 inch
...
. . .
February
. 7 4 7
. 4 0 0
6 0 . 9
8 5 . 7
4 0 . 5
3
1.56 „ ...
. . .
March
. 5 9 3
. 3 8 4
7 5 . 3
9 4 . 8
4 0 . 5
4
1.36 „
. . .
. . .
April
. 5 0 7
. 4 5 4
8 3 . 6
1 0 4 . 5
4 4 . 8
4
0.44 „
. . .
. . .
May
. 3 6 9
. 3 8 4
9 1 . 6
1 1 4 . 3
4 2 . 9 ,
2
0.08 „
. . .
. . .
June.
. 2 3 3
. 5 2 4
9 4 . 5
1 1 3 . 3
3 6 . 5
7
3.59 ,,
2
1 . 3 0
July
. 2 3 5
. 2 9 2
9 1 . 0
1 0 5 . 0
2 7 . 5
11
2.23 .„
16
10.50
A u g u s t
. 2 5 5
. 4 2 0
9 0 . 5
1 0 7 . 2
3 0 . 0
10
5'67 „
9
8 . 5 0
September
. 4 0 1
. 3 3 7
8 8 . 5
1 0 5 . 5
3 4 . 1 ,
4 ,
0-39 „
6
4 . 0 0
October
. 6 0 6
. 4 3 3
7 9 . 5
1 0 6 . 7
5 0 . 3
3
3'38 „
5
.70
November
. 6 8 7
. 3 3 2
7 3 . 8
9 2 . 9
5 0 . 3 ...
—.
. . .
. . .
December
. 7 4 1
. 4 3 0
6 2 . 8
8 2 . 7
3 9 . 3
2
0.60 „
. . .
. . .
Total
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
...
55
21.31 „
3 8
3 0 " . 0 0
Y. Lines and Ruts.—Until the month of September the men occupied the Wellington
Barracks, lately vacated by the Royal Artillery, and situated on the west . side of the Convent
Road, and on east side of the road from Papamhow to Kuttra Bazar—one troop occupying a
range of huts at north-west corner of Wellington Barracks. In September five troops, and in
.
.
November the remaining troop, moved into the new cavalry lines. These lines (as will be
seen from the accompanying plan), are situated on the west side of the road running from
Papamhow to Kuttra Bazar, and, when completed, will consist of twelve rows, each of four
blocks of huts built of sun-dried-bricks, and roofed with tiles. The rows of huts run almost due
east and west, and thus three streets running north and south have been formed. Every two rows
face inwards, and between the inward faces, and parallel to the rows, run the horse-stands.
Two rows, with their embraced horse-stands, are appropriated to each of the six troops ;
A troop being at the north end of the lines, and F troop at the south end, on the high bank
of a nullah running westwards. At either end of the various troop rows are erected the
native officers' bungalows and their servants' quarters. In the space between C and D
troops has been erected a gymnasium, and at the east end of F troop-lines, close to the
road side, a mosque has been run up for the use of the men of that troop. A " block
of huts" consists of a number of huts touching one another at each side by a common wall.
Each hut has a verandah 10 feet deep looking to the horse-stands, and behind it has a small
courtyard 6 feet deep, and of same length as the hut, which looks to the courtyard of the adjacent
row. of huts in the next troop. The hut proper measures 18 feet long by 10 feet broad (deep), with
o f
a m e a n h e i g h t o f 1 2 f e e t 6 i n c h e s , a n d i s i n t e n d e d t o a c c o m m o d a t e t w o s o w a r s , s o t h a t e a c h m a n
has 18x10/2=90' superficial space, and 90' X 12' 6"=1125' cubic space, Ventilation is effected
by the doors and eaves, and by square perforations (loop holes) in the back wall of the hut,
and is amply sufficient. The floor of the hut and its verandah are raised about nine inches above
street level.
Reference to the huts plan will show the dimensions of the streets and of the
intervals between adjacent rows of
accompanying
and between adjacent troops. The regimental bazar
lies to the north of centre of A troop, and consists of two rows of huts (formerly occupied by
D troop), and is well adapted for the purposes of a regimental bazar.
Drainage.—Running along the rear of the courtyards and the front of the verandahs
are drains, which open on the east and west sides of the lines into ditches, whose contents are
carried off by nullahs, which, trending westerly and slightly southerly, ultimately unite to ter-
- minate in the Ganges. To all appearance the drainage system should suffice to keep the lines
dry, especially as there is a good natural fall to the nullahs ; but since the erection of these
lines there has been no rainfall to an extent sufficient to test the drainage powers.
conservancy.—The regimental sweepers attend to the conservancy of the lines and
bazar, which is, considering the lines have not yet been completed, quite satisfactory. The
conservancy of officers' compounds is attended to by the sweeper establishment, by which refuse
is removed in the conservancy carts, which come round every morning.
Latrines.—For the regiment and its bazar the trench system is enforced, and the
latrines are situated about 500 yards west of each end of the lines, and so much nearer the out-
fall of the drainage system. The trenches are shallow, and are changed about every other day,
and the system works well. In officers' compounds are kutcha-pucka privies on the dry-earth
system, daily emptied by the station conservancy Carts, and kept in good order.