96
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Hospital
dieting
and bedding.
necessity of a standard of height, age, and chest measurement, for the various races of which
the Native army is composed and of adhering to it. The question of dieting patients properly
in hospital without offending the prejudices of caste is one of considerable difficulty, though
felt, perhaps, less in this regiment than most ; but the pay being insufficient, if the patient remai
long in, it is impossible to do so, without further means being put at the disposal of the surgeon.
Hospital bedding is also much required, especially in cases that remain long in hospital, whensu
their own scanty supply of bedding does not allow of the necessary change and cleanliness.
The health of the camp followers has been fair throughout the yeár.
2nb Goorkha (The Sirmoor Ritle) Regiment.—Dehra Dun.
Medical
charge.
Location and
movements.
Meteorology.
Surgeon-Major F. F. Allen C.B., held. medical charge during the whole year,
and reports as follows :—
II. Location and move-
men ts.—The regiment was at
Roorkee and on the return march
to Debra till 8th January. The
strength consisted of 511 of all
ranks.
Since the 8th of January no
movement has taken place.
The depôt, consisting of 200 of
all ranks, remained at Dehra
during the absence of regiment at Roorkee.
IV. Meteorology and Climate.— Monthly mean readings of maximum and minimum
Thermometers in air, and monthly rainfalls,
Year 1874.
M a x i m u m i n a i r . M o n t h l y m e a n .
M i n i m u m i n a i r . M o n t h l y m e a n .
M o n t h l y m e a n T e m p e r a t u r e .
R a i n f a l l i n i n c h e s .
Year 1873.
M a x i m u m i n a i r . M o n t h l y m e a n .
M i n i m u m i n a i r . M o n t h l y m e a n .
M o n t h l y m e a n t e m p e r a t u r e .
R a i n f a l l i n i n c h e s .
January . . .
63.8
42.8
53.3
1.46
January . . .
69.2
44.1
56.7
1.08
February . . .
68.3
46.2
57.3
3.77
February . . .
75.4
50.1
62.8
0.34
March . . .
74.2
51.6
62.9
3.48
March . . .
80.4
55.3
67.9
1.21
April . . .
90.3
63.3
76.8
0.02
April . . .
93.2
64.9
79.1
0.00
May . . .
98.3
70.9
8 4 . 6
0.57
May . . .
91.3
67.7
79.5
1.97
June . . .
90.5
73.2
81.9
18.73
June . . .
100.0
76.4
88.2
0.60
July . . .
84.6
73.3
79.0
34.57
July . . .
88.1
74.8
81.5
28.45
August . . .
85.1
73.1
79.1
25.72
August . . .
85.6
73.8
79.7
21.43
September . . .
85.0
70.0
77.5
7.82
September . . .
84.1
70.0
77.1
10.52
October . . .
83.6
59.9
71.8
0.00
October . . .
81.0
57.3
69.2
0.09
November . . .
75.3
49.6
62.5
0.00
November . . .
75.4
50.3
62.9
0.00
December . . .
68.3
44.6
56.5
0.00
December . . .
68.6
44.6
56.6
0.94
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions.
Deaths.
Daily sick.
1869 . . .
Debra Dún Jan.1869 . . .
96.6
.9
3.9
1870 . . .
Ditto Ditto . . .
74.1
1.8
3.7
1871 . . .
Ditto Ditto . . .
108.8
2.1
4.4
1872 . . .
Ditto Ditto . . .
140.9
4.3
5.3
1873
. . .
Ditto Ditto . . .
86.4
2.2
3.9
Average . . .
. . .
101.4
2.2
4.2
1874 . . .
Debr a Dún. . . .
80.9
2.5
3.9
1873 & 1874
compared.
Lines.
Drainage.
Improvements.
Conservancy.
A comparison can be instituted between the years 1873-1874 by means of the above table.
Both the years were remarkable as being entirely free from epidemic disease. The rains com-
menced early in June 1874, and continued till 15th September, after which time only one
slight shower fell in December. In 1872 (the cholera year) 97.67 inches of rain fell; in 1873
66.62 inches, and 96.14 in 1874. The highest thermometer in 1872 was in June, when
102.8 was marked. This is a higher reading than during either 1873 or 1874. During the
year under report, the heat was scarcely felt from the rains setting in so early.
V. Lines and barracks— During the year eight new huts have been built in the married
lines of the same size and plan as those built last year. The whole of the barracks are in
g o o d r e p a i r a n d t h e r e i s n o o v e r c r o w d i n g .
VI. Drainage.— The drainage is naturally good from the slope of the ground. The head
of some of the ravines which received the surface-drainage have been sloped off, and
others have had a boulder masonry wall built at the part where they were gradually working
backward. Where the ravines have been sloped off, turf has been laid down, and fir trees
planted along the sides. The ravines first treated in this manner have stood the subsequent
rains without any further injury.
VII. Conservancy.- The trench system is in use, A new trench is dug daily and
the former one filled in. In the hospital latrine the dry-earth system is in use. McDougal's