28
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Drainage.
Conservancy
latrines.
They have all through the year been in first rate repair, and no overcrowding took place
at any time : indeed, from the extent of the accommodation afforded, the latter is simply an
impossibility, so long as the regiment remains at its present standard of strength.
VI. Drainage,― In my report for 1872 I entered very fully into the drainage of the
station generally, and into that of the lines of the regiment particularly. During the past year
ample opportunity was afforded of seeing, the working of the system, and so far as the barracks
and their vicinity went, I don't think anything could have worked better ; the surface drains
were always kept well cleared out, and a few hours after the very heaviest rain it had com-
pletely disappeared.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.— The conservancy of the lines is maintained in the same
manner as in former years. All refuse is collected by the line sweepers in a place set apart for
its reception, a short distance from the lines. Every two days the station conservancy carts
remove it, and as it simply consists of the sweepings of the lines, bazaar, &c., I consider
that ample.
The trench system of latrines still continues, and, as I wrote last year, answers well
for a large portion of the year. I need hardly say that the difficulties were (on account
o f t h e h e a v y r a i n f a l l ) e n o r mo u s l y i n c r e a s e d i n i t s ma n a g e me n t , b u t o n e g r e a t r e a s o n f o r
the continuance of the system even in the rains, consists in the fact that the water-supply
is, to a much larger extent, liable to contamination where men are allowed to defile the
country than where they are compelled to resort to a space so limited as that occupied by
the latrines.
Water-supply.
Diet.
VIII. Water-supply;— The water is supplied from the same sources as described by me
last year. I have frequently tasted the water of the different wells and think it excellent; the
majority of the men bathe in the Ganges and wash their clothes there, so the dangers of con-
tamination from those sources are greatly lessened.
IX. Diet.—The same system, that of each man dieting himself, as described before, still
exists; the bazaar has been abundantly supplied and prices were not above the average; inspec-
tions are held frequently,and,
e x c e p t i n a f e w i n s t a n c e s , t h e a r t i c l e s h a v e a l w a y s b e e n f o u n d g o o d .
As a rule, under or improper feeding most certainly does not exist in the regiment,
and the appearance of a batch of recruits six months after enlistment shows the mar-
vellous effects of good feeding, housing and clothing, combined with a proper amount of
exercise. _ _
.
_
Mattrasses.
loo
X. Clohing.—As
stated in my last year's report, I look on this as one of the most
important (if not the most important) of all the means taken to preserve the health of this
regiment. Exactly, the same means were adopted as those described by me last year. Scarcely
a man in the regiment does not now wear a warm coat, buttoned closely to the body, under
his native clothing. All recruits are provided with a dugla (or coat padded with cotton),
a good warm rezai and a dhurry. I mentioned last year that some straw mattrasses were
being provided for the hospital. Ten of these have been in use during the year and were
the greatest comfort to the patients; they are distributed amongst the severe cases at my
discretion, and were a great assistance to me in the treatment of disease.
Boots and
shoes.
These mattrasses are so cheap (the ones we have only cost. 14 annas and 9 pie each), so
very valuable to the patients, and so easily made up, I would beg to suggest that .Government
be asked to supply them under regimental arrangement. Twenty would be ample for a regi-
ment in this part of India, and they will last two years at the least, so that the annual cost
for each regiment would be a very little over Rs. 9, a very insignificant amount to Gov-
ernment, and the expenditure of which will be a saving of many hundreds of rupees to the
State. The shoes described by me last year, viz., cut away at the sides and with a very high heel
and instep, have not answered so well as I then expected; they are just the usual thing made
up. of different sizes and not to the peculiarity of the men's feet; the usual result followed
their wear during any marching; in the rains the men had to march about three miles to a
guard, and it was perfectly astonishing the number of men who presented themselves at the
hospital whilst the guard lasted.
It plainly showed me that, at any rate, these were not the best shoes that could be in-
vented; indeed, I am not sure if better results could not be obtained with the ordinary
ammunition boot, ill fitting and hard as the majority are.
It strikes any one who has been a short time in India the enormous marches natives.
can make in ordinary bazar shoes, and that, too, without a blistered foot. Surely if the
men were allowed to provide shoes of that description, a little more respectable in appear-
ance, it would be better than the blistering boxes they are so often obliged to shamble
about in now.
Duty and
employment.
If socks could be provided it would be all very well., but, as a rule, they cannot, and even
if they could the men can hardly afford them. I think the experiment of allowing men to
shoe themselves is one which would be well worth trying..
X XI. Duty and employment,Much last year; it was never very severe, as the average
number of nights in. bed for the year was 12.67. The men on detachment- duty were, how-
ever, not so well off; they were very hard worked, in a trying climate, and got little or no rest
at night : the admissions were, in consequence, somewhat higher than at head-quarters, but I
cannot help looking on it as a very satisfactory test of the regiment where, with a detachment
averaging 124 men, living in a shed and working as they did, they had only 23 admissions
in a period of three months and, eight days. .
.