Diet.
Clothing.
Boots.
Hospital.
Hospital
clothing.
Sickness,
mortality
and invalid-
ing.
97
MEERUT DIVISION.
disinfecting powder is also used, as the building is on the old system with very incomplete
drainage, and very near the cook house.
VIII. Water-supply.— I have but little to add to my last year's report on this subject.
The masonry channel for drinking water is now in use, and seems to be appreciated by the
regiment. The water is cooler than that running in the open canal. No impurity can now
find its way into the drinking water, as it runs in a well covered-in masonry channel, from
the point where it leaves the main canal to its termination opposite the quarter guard.
IX. Diet, &c.—I can add nothing to the previous reports on this subject. The men
are. as a rule. all well fed.
X. Clothing.—The clothing is appropriate to season and duty. The boot used is the
Blucher boot. I do not see how it is possible to avoid foot-sores when the native soldier is
wearing English boots without socks, and making long marches. It is very necessary to have
an uniform appearance on parade, but when marching, or on active service in the field, I have
always suggested that the men should be permitted to wear any kind of shoe they choose, or go
barefooted if they preferred it, the main point being for them thoroughly to understand the
importance of keeping their feet in serviceable order. Under such circumstances, I have
usually observed a preference has been given to the Common Hindustani shoe.
XI. Duty, &c.—T h er
e g i m e n t w a s a t t h e R o o r k e e c a m p o f e x e r c i s e t i l l J a n u a r y 3 r d ,
and on the return march to Dehra till the 8th. In January the men were employed in cutting
grass in the Madhoowalla jungle for roofing the new barracks about to be built in the
married lines.
Water-supply.
Duty.
In December the men again went out grass-cutting to provide grass for roofing the
barracks which will be erected in 1875, and also for any repairs required to roofs of old
barracks.
In addition to the above-mentioned occupations, the usual routine duties have been
performed. The number of nights in bed has been
—
Havildars . . .
6 nights.
Naicks . . .
6 "
Riflemen . . .
9 "
The new hospital has been commenced, a bath room has been added
to the old hospital, which is still in use, to which the men freely resort. The
hospital clothing, provided regimentally, has been worn out, but 50 sets of
new clothing are being made ; new charpoys are also being supplied.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding .—Strength of the regiment —present, 645.2;
absent, 62.5, total 707.7.
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUM-
BER OF
D a i l y a v e r a g e n u m b e r o f s i c k .
PER CENT. OF
STRENGTH PER AN-
NUM.
From
To
Admis-
sions.
D e a t h s .
Admis-
sions.
D e a t h s .
D a i l y a v e r a g e s i c k .
Head-quarters, Roorkee, and
on march . . .
1st Jan. . . .
7th Jan. . . .
511
1
. . .
23.5
10.4
. . .
4.6
Head-quarters at Debra Dún
8th " . . .
31st Dec. . . .
643.5
520
6
25.2
82.4
. 9 5 3.91
Depôt at Dehra Dún . . .
1st " . . .
7th Jan. . . .
200
1
. . .
26.1
14.0
. . .
7.
TOTAL . . .
. . .
. . .
645.2
522
6
25.4
80.9
. 9 3 3.94
Number of deaths in hospital, 6 ; out of hospital, 4 ; total, 10 ; per cent. of total strength . . .
1.4
" invalided, 18 ; " " . . .
2.5
" s e n t o n s i c k l e a v e , 1 2 ; " " . . .
1.6
" of days spent in hospital, 9,248 ; per admission, 17.7 ; per man of total strength
13.1
" on sick leave, 1,428 ; per man 119 ; " " . . .
2.0
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength . . .
15.1
XVI. Principal causes of sickness.— During the year under report, 522 admissions have
taken place : 578 were admitted in 1873, and the admissions in 1872 were 836, shewing
that the regiment has progressed favorably as regards recovery of health since the Looshai
expedition of 1871-72.
Prevalent
diseases.
A1