95
MEERUT DIVISION.
Bengal Sappers and Miners—Roorkee.
I. Medical Officers.—Surgeon-Major R. T. Lyons assumed medical charge
of the head-quarters of the
corps in March, when Sur-
geon-Major A. Eteson pro-
ceeded on furlough. The de-
tachments were as usual
under the charge of a great
variety of medical officers.
II. Location and movements.—
The head-quarters remained at
Roorkee throughout the year.
The four companies (viz., 5th,
6th, 9th and 10th) forming
the Delhie Detachment for the
Imperial Assemblage at the begin-
ning of the year, rejoined head-
quarters on the 25th January.
The 7th Company was at Rawul Pindee from 1st January to 11th May; at Murree from 12th
May to 15th June, and again at Rawul Pindee from 16th June to the end of the year.
The 2nd Company was at Peshawar from 1st January to 11th May; at Cherat from 12th
May to 30th November, when it proceeded to join the expedition against the Jowakis, being
on field service to the end of the year. The 3rd Company was at Peshawar from 1st January
to 26th October, when it proceeded on the Jowaki expedition, and was engaged on field
service. to the end of the year. The 5th Company marched from head-quarters for Quetta on
the 2nd May; it arrived at its destination on the 29th June, and remained there to the end of
the year. The 5th and 10th Companies were at Hurdwar during the horse fair from 25th
March to 16th April, and were employed on the construction of a pontoon bridge over the
Gauges, so that the fair may be held on the distant bank of the river without causing in-
convenience to the public. A section of the 4th Company proceeded to Peshawar to join the
Jowaki expedition on the 7th December; another section of the same Company followed on the
28th December: these sections were engaged on field service to the end of the year.
IV. Metorology and climate.—During the past year the rains failed almost completely.
The hot weather was of unusal severity. A thunder storm occurred on the morning of the
10th December, during which a barrack of the European regiment was struck by lightning
and the thatched roof set on fire.
V. Lines, barracks and huts.—The lines and barracks have been described in previous
reports. No change has been made in them during the past year. The huts are low and not
fully ventilated, and the accommodation for families is very limited. Suitable quarters for
officers are much needed. The houses are few, and several of those that are available afford
most indifferent accommodation. Officers newly arrived are much embarrassed by the difficulty
of obtaining a house to reside in.
VI. Drainage.—The drainage of the station is attended with some difficulty, in conse-
quence of the small slope of the land, and the loose sandy nature of the soil which causes a
large amount of silting in the drains.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.—The urinals, latrines, and the general conservancy of the
lines are managed with much care. The addition of a roof to the bazar latrines would be
an improvement as a protection during the rains; but its want has not been felt nor caused
nuisance during the past year, in consequence of the almost complete failure of the usual
rains. The trench system with movable latrines has been most efficiently and successfully
carried out during the year. Twelve movable latrines for the sepoys and camp-followers, and
two for women were set up at the beginning of the year, just beyond the parade ground on
the south of the station, and have been resorted to by about a thousand people during the last
twelve months without any appreciable nuisance or evil resulting. The trenches are dug a foot
and half in depth, by a foot in breadth, and are filled in daily, the movable latrines being
advanced a foot or two every afternoon. Five mehters are employed on this work, and they
reside in a hut set up on the spot without detriment to their health. A portion of the ground
used for this purpose is now under cultivation. The system is thoroughly successful and
satisfactory.
VIII. Water-supply.—The supply of water is derived from wells, of which there are
many in the station.
IX. Diet.—The ordinary diet of the men consists of one seer, or 2 lbs., of attah or wheat
flour made into chapatties, with two chittacks, or 4 ounces of dhall, one chittack of ghee, and
half a seer of milk. The cost of this diet is l½ annas for one seer of attah, 22 pies for 2
chittacks of dhall, 8 pies for one chittack of ghee, and 6 pies for half a seer of milk, aggre-
gating 2 annas 10½ pies for the day's food. The food is taken at one meal by the Hindustanis
to economise time and trouble, as thus they avoid the repetition of the ceremonies necessary
for the preparation of their meals. The Sikhs, Mussulmans and others divide their food into
YEAR.
Station.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1872
Roorkee
98.5
2.1
2.9
1873
Ditto
92.6
1.4
2.1
1874
Ditto
130 2
.7
3.6
1875
Ditto
101.38
.96
2.65
1876
Ditto
129.29
1.48
3.73
Average
110.39
1.33
2.99
Roorkee
131.12
.79
3.82
Medical
Officers.
Location and
movements.
Meteorology
and climate.
Lines,
barracks
and huts.
Drainage.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Water.supply
Diet.