Diet.
Vegetables.
Duty and
employment.
Exercise,
amusement,
and occupa
-tion.
Marches and
service.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Water-supply.
Clothing.
The shoe
question.
20
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
The year 1874 was an exceptional one, and it was possible for some days to go about the
station in a boat; this was attributable not to excessive rain here, but the rising of the river
from prolonged rain further north.
V I I . C o n s e r v a n c y a n d l a t r i n e s.
— T h e " t r e n c h s y s t e m " o f l a t r i n e i s i n
use, and answers very well for three quarters of the year; but, during the rains,
it fails, inasmuch as the low-lying country round the lines is submerged, and.
no dry place is available on which to place the latrine.
In the regimental hospital the dry-earth system is employed.
V I I I . W a t e r - s u p p l y
. — T h e w a t e r - s u p p l y o f t h e r e g i m e n t i s g o o d a n d a b u n d a n t . T h e r e
are four pucca wells in the lines; two attached to the hospital, and one on the parade ground.
The water of these different wells varies in a singular manner, although in close proximity to
each other; from some the supply is sweet and good, from others salt and brackish. It has
been analysed on several occasions, and, roughly speaking, contains an excess of sulphates and a
g o o d d e a l o f l i m e .
IX. Diet .—Surgeon Seaman inspected the bazar supplies at frequent in
-tervals, and always found them to be good; he believes that under-feeding did
not exist to any injurious extent. The supply of vegetables was abundant and
cheap, and no cases of scurvy had come under observation. Mr. Seaman
suggests that it would be a great assistance to the medical officer if a system of
rationing the sick in hospital could be introduced into all regimental hospitals.
The clothing is well suited to the climate, and for the duties of the men.
Much consideration has been given to the question of shoes for the men; the medical
officer last year reported that the "shoes were very bad and caused sore feet," There were,
indeed, a considerable number of admissions into hospital from this cause, especially after route
marching or prolonged parades. The officer commanding takes much interest in this matter,
and has instituted a series of experiments with a view to ascertain the best form of
shoe for the regiment. The defects of the old shoe are—(1) the friction caused by its looseness
and want of fit; (2), the ridge of leather caused by the tongue, which was very apt to double
under and cause a sore; (3), the unevenness of the junction of the upper and lower leathers;
(4), the weight and clumsiness of the whole thing, and the hard and unyielding nature of the
leather. These drawbacks the commanding officer has, in a great measure, remedied in
devising a shoe of softer leather, (beaten) and better shape, lighter make, and without the other
disadvantages above mentioned. It is undoubtedly a much better shoe than that now in use,
and will certainly cause much less foot-soreness. A committee of native officers have expressed
their opinion, that it remedies the existing defects and will meet the wants of the sepoys.
XI. Duty and employment.—Only the ordinary duties have been performed during the
past year, and have not been excessive in any way.
XII. Exercise, amusements, and occupations .—Some of the men exercise themselves in
wrestling and with clubs. There are no amusements, and no occupations other than those
connected with duty at Dinapore, and this it is that renders this an undesirable station.
XIII. Marches and service .—No marches, other than the usual route marching, have
occurred, and there has been no service.
Hospital.
Sickness,
mortality, and invaliding.
XIV. Hospital .—The hospital is suitable in every way for the accom
-modation of the sick of the regiment, and is provided with bath-rooms and
baths. Mr. Seaman draws attention to the necessity there is for mattrasses
being issued to hospitals of native regiments, to which iron bedsteads with
ribbed iron bottoms have been supplied.
XV. Sickness, mortality, and invaliding .—Strength of' regiment— present 607.3, absent
99.8; total 707.1.
PERIOD.
Strength.
TOTAL NUMBER OF Daily
average
number
of sick.
PER CENT OF STRENGTH
PER MAN.
From
To
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
Admis-
sions.
Deaths.
Daily
average
sick.
Head-quarters at Dinapore . . . 1st Jan. 31st Dec. 590.80
448
2
19.6
75.83
.33
3.32
D e t a c h m e n t a t M o z u f f e r p o r e . . . 26th Apl. 17th July 79
13
. . .
4.1
72.12
. . .
5.2
TOTAL . . .
. . .
. . .
607.3
461
2
20.1
75.90
.33
3.47
Number of deaths in hospital, 2; out of hospital 2; total 4; per cent of total strength . . .
0.56
Invalided, . . . 25; . . . " " . . .
3.53
Sent on sick leave, . . . 5; . . .
" " . . .
.70
Number of days spent in hospital, 7,449; per admission, 16.16; per man " . . .
10.53
" " on sick leave, 699; per man, 139.8;
" " . . .
.99
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength . . .
11.52