Trench
Latrines.
Water-supply
Wells for
hospital use.
Diet.
Clothing.
Duty and
employment.
Exercise,
amusements
and occu-
pations.
Hospital.
G W A L I O R D I S T R I C T .
41
Carries them to an ash-pit, distant upwards of a mile from the lines. The dry-earth latrine
trenches occupy a. piece of ground lying west of the lines; this piece of ground is, however, too
small, and already the trenches have advanced unpleasantly near to the lines. The presence of
the river Morar makes it impossible to dig trenches further to the west, and there will be no
alternative but to make them at an inconvenient distance from the lines, until the ground
already turned over shall be ready for second use. For the accommodation of those using the
trenches, both mat and wooden screens are provided; the former are unfitted for the purposes for
which they are intended, as they afford no protection from rain or sun, and during high winds
are frequently blown down. There are not these drawbacks to the wooden screens moving
upon wheels, and they, moreover, afford more complete isolation to each man from others who
may be using the trenches at the same time. I would therefore strongly recommend these
to the exclusion of mat screens, and the more so that every inducement is necessary to prevail
upon sepoys to make use of the trenches.
The trenches being unavailable for men in hospital, the excreta of the latter are collected
in iron filth-pans which are every night carted to filth pits at a considerable distance from the
lines.
VIII. Water-Supply .—A rough analysis of the drinking water was made during the
year and showed that, although its hardness was unusually great, yet nitrates and organic
matter were not present in such quantity as Would prove injurious to health. In last
year's report I mentioned that there were two wells for hospital use, the water from one
of which was turbid and undrinkable. Neither well was pucka throughout. This state
of things no longer exists, one of the wells having been stone-lined throughout by the
Department of Public Works. The water from the other wells is used for washing only.
IX. Diet.—This was treated of at considerable length in the reports for 1875 and
D i e t 1 8 7 6 . F u r t h e r e x p e r i e n c e h a s o n l y c o n v i n c e d m e o f t h e d e s i r a b i l i t y o f s u b s t i t u t i n g t h e
issue of rations for the present system of feeding. I feel sure that by so doing Government
would obtain a more efficient body of men, and men better able to resist the unhealthy
influences of such a station as this for instance. It is a significant fact that for one case of
fever amongst the European troops here, there are about five a
amongst natives.
X. Clothing.—As remarked in last year's report the undress clothing of the men
C l o t h i n g d u r i n g t h e c o l d s e a s o n i s n o t s u c h a s t o p r o t e c t t h e m f r o m t h e c h i l l s i n c i d e n t t o i t s w i d e l y
fluctuating temperature.
XI. Duty and Employment. —The duties of the regiment during the year have been
rather heavy, the station-guards being unusually numerous. On alternate weeks the regi-
ments has furnished a guard averaging forty men to Fortress—Gwalior, but from November
25th to the end of the year it was relieved of this duty. On several occasions the regiment
has been called upon to provide an escort for treasure and other purposes—notably one to
Dholepore in which cholera appeared.
Number of nights in bed 6.49.
XII. Exercise, amusements and occupations .—There is no Gymnasium, and the men do
not shoot. They exercise themselves by putting the shot, and in playing a game not unlike
'rounders' or 'trap-and-ball' without the trap.
XIV. Hospital. —The hospital, which is of the regulation pattern, is described in the
report for 1871, p. 69. At the present time it is in good repair; during the year, it has
been re-thatched and twice white-washed. The dead-house and servants' quarters have been
put in repair by the Department of Public Works and are now in good condition.
The site of the hospital is a good one and the building affords sufficient accommodation
for the average number of sick. No artificial warming of the hospital is required, and it is
sufficiently lighted. Each man brings his own bedding or clothes.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding—Strength of the Regiment—
Present
.
.
.
.
. .
.
. .
.
. 629.47
Absent
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
71.30
Total
.
. 700.77
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER
OF
Daily
average n u m b e r
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
A d m i
s s i o n s .
D e a t h s .
Admiss
ions. Deaths.
Daily a v e r a g e d
sick.
From
To
Head-quarters at Morar
. 1st Jan. 1877 31st Dec. 1877 628.04 1,167
5
28.66 185.81
0 . 7 9
4.56
Detachment at Dholepore
2nd Oct. 1877 9th Oct. 1877 65.62
7
1
2.05 486.81 69.35
3.12
TOTAL
.
.
......
......
629.47 1,174
6
28.70 186.50 0.95
4.55
Number of deaths in hospital, 6; Out of hospital, 4; total
10; per cent. of total strength .
.
1 . 4 2
„
invalided .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
19;
" "
.
.
2.71
„
sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
.
18;
"
.
.
2.56
„
of days spent in hospital 10,479; per admission . 8.92; per man of total strength .
. 14.95
" on sick leave 2,054; per man
. 114.11 ;
"
" .
.
2.93
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
.
.
1 7 . 8 8