APPENDIX—MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE DUFFLA EXPEDITION.
237
in hard work, and under exposure to climate, it was best to be on the safe side. Moreover, no
real distinction practically could have been made. It would not be right to reduce it, as a
standard quantity, on future expeditions. On arrival at Narainpore private followers received
1 1/2 1b. atta or 1 1b. rice, which was sufficient for them.
I think the ration might have included 'goor.' The want of saccharine matter was
certainly felt. It might be allowed every third or fourth day and the vegetable omitted.
Garlic was occasionally supplied instead of the onions, and the change was liked. The daily
issue of the vegetable ration prevented any scorbutic tendency ; there was not a symptom of it
during the expedition. The mussalah portion altogether was a most valuable addition, and a
very necessary one where there were no bazaars to purchase condiments. Wild limes or
lemons were found near several of the camps, and the men used them freely.
There was also a " dry ration"‫٭‬ available. It was used on several occasions on board
the transports and on shore, more to satisfy a desire
for some change, than from any actual necessity.
After some correspondence, s ookti—dried fish
—was taken for the few rice-eating people of the
force.
Goats went with the force for the use of the
soldiers ; they were made over to detachments,
the men arranging among themselves for looking
‫٭‬ 12 oz. choora (parched rice).
10
„ parched gram,
1 / 2
„ oil.
2
„ ghee.
1
„ salt.
6
„ sugar.
4
„ tamarind.
1 / 4
„ chunam.
1 / 8
, ,
kuth.
Dry ration.
after and killing them. On the days of a meat ration atta or rice was reduced one-half.
51. Besides the daily ration, 2 ounces of sugar or 1/2 ounce tea free of charge was allowed
to each man in hospital, and to the rest of the troops and public followers on special occasions
of fatigue, exposure, or bad weather, when recommended by the Principal Medical Officer ;
also 1 dram of rum per man free of charge when there had been great fatigue and exposure,
or for some special reason to be determined by the Commanding Officer. These regulations
w e r e a g r e a t b o o n a n d w e r e t h e m e a n s o f a v e r t i n g s i c k n e s s .
Extra rations.
Issues of rum, or tea and sugar to those who preferred it, under the above conditions, took
place 5 times in December, 11 times in January, and 4 times in February. With free choice
allowed, about half of the men preferred rum. Thus out of 600 soldiers whose wishes were
ascertained, 293 chose rum, 307 tea and sugar ; all Sikhs and some Goorkhas and Jewahs
Of 1238 men :
took rum,
809
.
Kahars
...
... 144
Sikhs
. . .
... 220
Low-caste Hindoos
... 222
Musbi Sikhs ...
... 135
Goorkhas
...
... 88
Punjabee Mussulmans
. . . 380
took tea, 429.
Pathans
...
. . .
2 0
Goorkhas
. . .
. . . 29
drank the spirit. All Punjabee Mussulmans, Hin-
doos, and sonic Goorkhas and Jewahs took the tea.
As a rule, the men of the transport corps took the
issues in the numbers shown in the margin, though
the numbers often varied. Personal servants
were allowed to participate in all these indul-
gencies on payment ; they nearly all took tea and
sugar.
One ounce of tobacco and one dram of opium was allowed daily to any man paying for
the same. As stimulants these were of great value ; men accustomed to their use would have
failed entirely without them during the exposure and hard work. To this rule one dram of
rum might be added, except for the difficulty of its carriage. I mention it because the
Sikhs of the 42nd missed their daily dram of rum from their own regimental canteen, and
the Commanding Officer was certain that the health of his men under exposure suffered in
consequence. There was some confusion about the " dram" of opium. It was decided that it
should mean three ruttees, the ordinary dose of an opium eater, one ruttee being four grains
of hospital scale. The dose seemed large. The Civil Officer gave his opium out at one rupee's
weight (1 tola or 180 grains) for six days' consumption.
A hospital ration † was arranged for as the number of sick increased ; the stores were
hereby saved, for no man in hospital could eat
his full allowance. Commanding Officers drew
the rations for their men, minus the number in
hospital, for whom the medical officer sent in to
the Commissariat every morning a diet indent on
the above scale.
† 1 lb. rice.
2 ounces dall.
2 / 3 „
salt.
1 / 2
„
tea.
2
„
sugar.
Hospital
ration.
52. The services of the medical officers employed, and of some of the hospital assistants,
are acknowledged in G. G. O. No. 375 of 13th April 1875.
Services of
medical
officers.
U 2