Medical
Officer.
Location and
movements.
Detachments.
Lines.
Drainage.
Conservancy.
Water.
Food supplies.
New great
coat.
Boot.
Duty.
Marches and
service.
Hospital.
Improve-
ments.
Blankets.
Warming.
SIRHIND DIVISION.
109
12th (The Eclat-i-Chilsee) Regiment, Aatibe Infantry—Iullundur.
I. Medical Officer.—Surgeon F.J. Tuohy, M. D., held medical charge of the
regiment throughout the
year, and writes the annual
report.
II. Location and movements.—
The head-quarters, numbering
about 500 strong, remained at the
"Imperial Assemblage Camp,"
Delhie, till the 11th January, on
which date it marched for Jullun-
dur, arriving there on the 3rd
March, and remained at that sta
t i o n f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e y e a r .
The detachments at Forts Ludhi
ana and Phillour were relieved
every three months from head
quarters.
The lines afford sufficient
and good accommodation, and are well drained. The dry-earth system of latrine
conservancy continues to work well. A new well has been sunk near the
regimental bazar. A sufficient supply of good water is obtained from the
wells, in the vicinity of which no bathing nor washing is allowed. Food-sup
plies were dear, but the men obtained compensation and are well nourished.
Each sepoy was furnished during the year with a great-coat and cape of English
beaver, which is considered a great improvement on the country blanket ones
previously in use. The ammunition boot is worn, and there were very few
cases of blistered feet on the march, notwithstanding bad weather and heary
sands.
Duty is light at Jullundur, and the men engage in native games, wrestling
shikar, &c.
XIII. Marches and service.—The head-quarters of the regiment, numbering about 500
strong, remained at the "Imperial Assemblage Camp," Delhie, till the 11th January, was en
camped to the right of the Alipore road on an elevated piece of ground well drained and situated
about 3½ miles from the city. The drinking water was obtained from a well about 300 yard
from the sepoys' tents, was brackish and evidently very impure, as a good many cases of dy
sentery occurred, and nearly all four cases were complicated with diarrhœa. The cases could not
have arisen from any other source, as the men were strictly prohibited from using the canal
water, and the bowel-complaints disappeared when the regiment moved out of the standing
camp, and the water on all the camping grounds en route to Jullundur was of good quality.
Surface drainage is badly wanted in most of the camping grounds, particularly at Karnul and
Alipore. After heavy rain the water lodges in patches, and it is difficult to obtain a dry
spot to pitch a camp on.
XIV. Hospital.—An expenditure of Rs. 12,000 has been sanctioned to make some im
provements in the hospital. The inner and outer walls and the roof are to be raised about
6 feet, and a tiled roof to be substituted for the thatched one; windows with fan sashes to be placed
over the doorways. In this station, where ophthalmia is so prevalent from the irritation of glare
and sand, a dark room in the hospital for the treatment of such cases would be an advantage: if
a portion of the verandah were partitioned off, it would answer the purpose very well. The
old hospital assistants' quarters have been converted into a cook-house, giving ample accommo-
dation for all castes to cook their food. The change is a great comfort to most of the sick. As
the old building was only large enough to accommodate one caste, the others had either to do
so in the open, exposed to the rain, dust-storms, &c., or suffer the discomfort of having it brought
to them from a distance from the lines. The old cook-house has been converted into a dead-
house. A zenana compound has been sanctioned in connection with the medical subordinates
quarters, and their construction will be commenced immediately. A lot of young trees have
been planted around the hospital and in the lines during the year; in a few years they will
afford a grateful shade, and protect the building from the heat and glare of the sun, and cool the
ground in the vicinity. The allowance of blankets as bedding for the sick has been received,
and they are issued to recruits and young sepoys while under treatment in hospital to supple-
ment their own bedding when considered necessary by the medical officer. The quantity of
fuel issued during the latter portion of the year as sanctioned in General Order No. 681 of
1877, i.e., 80lbs. daily for each large fire-place, is not sufficient to warm the large ward, as it
has only one fire-place situated at the extreme end, which only warms that portion of it, whereas
the other end is bleak and cold. To warm it properly and make it comfortable, a large fire-place
at each end would be necessary. The building is well lighted.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1872
Sialkot, Feb. 1869, from
Jubbulpore.
64.4
.7
2.2
1873
Peshawar, Feb. 1873
265.3
1.8
10.8
1874
Ditto
189.9
2.2
5.5
1875
Ditto
248.12
5 . 14
6.78
1876
Jullundur, Feb. 1876
265.49
1.72
6.27
Average
206.64
2.31
6.55
1877
Jullundur
162.4
2.31
5.35
c 1