Drainage.
Conservancy.
Water.
Food.
Clothing.
Duty and
employment.
Exercise,
amusements,
Marches.
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
112
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
buildings have been made over to the regiment, and are now occupied by the married men and
their families. The unmarried men live in tents; there is no overcrowding.
VI. Drainage.— The small spur on which the regiment was encamped at Simla was
naturally well drained. At Amritsar there is one large open drain running the whole length
of the north front of cantonments, from east to west, between the barracks and parade ground.
Into this smaller drains empty themselves at right angles, but the country is so flat that after
rain there is always water left to be got rid of by evaporation and percolation. The country
very gently slopes to the west, and the main drain becomes more shallow, until just out of the
cantonment boundary it is lost in the lower lying ground, upon which it pours its contents.
There is no outlet to the water thus poured out, and most of it is got rid of by percolation
and evaporation. The country in the vicinity of cantonments is at present badly drained.
VII
. Conservancy.—At Simla trenches were made for the use of the men, below the camp.
The old ones were filled in, and new ones made as required. The trenches were generally used at
Amritsar. Trenches have been made some 700 paces distant, in front of the camp. Those are not
so generally used, the men preferring to visit the fields. The filth and refuse of the camp is
readily taken away in carts and on donkeys by the cultivators in the vicinity of cantonments.
VIII. Water.—At Simla water for all purposes was obtained from natural pools in ravines
below, and to the right and left of the camp. Those pools were kept filled by the oozing and
trickling of water from the head of the ravines, and from surface-water after rain. The water
was of fair quality and in sufficient quantity. At Amritsar there are numerous brick-lined
wells. Water is found from 11 to 13 feet below the surface of the ground, according to the
seasons. The water in each of the wells used by the troops in cantonments is found to be
almost alike in quality, and there appears to be no contamination from surroundings. From
an analysis made by Surgeon R. Smith, M. B., A. M. D., it is inferred that the water is both pure
and wholesome. The quantity of organic matter being small, as evidenced by the products of
decomposition being in extremely small quantity, and the small amount of oxygen required to
oxodize the oxodizable organic matter.
IX.
Food.— Every kind of food was dear throughout the year, but fighting men receive
compensation for dearness of provisions at all times when the quantity of atta which can be
purchased for a rupee is less then sixteen seers, so at no time is there real scarcity in the
native army. During the past year the men at Simla could afford to live well, for, in addition to
their ordinary pay and compensation for dearness of provisions, they receive working pay,
the lump sum earned by them for work done by contract being Rs. 21,665-1. The subject
of food has been discussed in previous reports, and all that need now be said is that, as a rule, the
men are well fed, eat vegetables, and when in the hills make use of Indian-corn, flour and
potatoes.
X.
Clothing .—N o
c h a n g e h a s t a k e n p l a c e i n t h e c l o t h i n g o f t h e m e n d u r i n g t h e y e a r ;
they have capital great-coats and capes, and suitable clothing for the various seasons and for
the work they have to do, and are fairly well provided with undress clothing, bedding, &c.
XI.
Duty and employment.— The head-quarters of the regiment were at Simla for nine
mouths under the Public Works Department, and the men were employed in cutting off the top
of Observatory Hill and in making roads ; they worked from four to six days a week, and from
six to eight hours a day. They had also their hours of instruction in their various duties,
and took the usual camp guards. At Amritsar their time is fully taken up by parades,
musketry guards, &c. Nights in bed 6.13.
XII. Exercise, amusements, &c.— The time of the men is nearly wholly occupied by their
duties, and they had little or no time for amusement.
XIII. Marches.—The head-quarters marched from Delhie to Simla, and from Simla to
Amritsar. The encamping grounds were found in fair order ; water always plentiful, and
generally good; supplies sufficient. Tempestuous weather was met with on both marches. A
detachment marched from Meean Meer to Amritsar, and another detachment marched from
Umballa to Amritsar. Nothing deserving special notice occurred on any of the marches.
XIV. Hospital.—The head-quarters of the regiment were in camp from the 1st of January
to the 23rd of December. During this time the sick were treated in tents. Charpoys were supplied
for their use, and they were made as comfortable as circumstances would admit of. At Amritsar
a quarter-guard-house is used as a hospital; it will accommodate from fourteen to sixteen men.
An uncovered latrine has been made near it for the use of the sick. There are no houses for
the hospital assistants or hospital servants, but the latter are supplied with tents. Warm
numdas are supplied by the regiment for the use of the sick, and blankets have been received
by indent from the Commissariat. There is a small fire-place in the building, and the sick are
fairly comfortable.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.— Strength of the regiment
—
Present
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
632.94
Absent
. . .
.
.
55.90
Total
.
.
688.84