98
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Topography,
&c.
Threatened
famine.
Geology.
The canton-
ment.
Drainage.
Tanks.
Meteorology
and climate.
Lines.
Latrines.
Water
Food and
clothing.
Duty.
Hospital.
•
III. Topography, &c.—Bareilly is the head-quarters of the district of Rohilcund, and its
geographical position is about 28° 23' north latitude, and 79° east longitude. The surround-
ing country is in most places well cultivated, and the soil produces, under favorable circum-
stances, the various kinds of. pulses and grain in abundance ; but, owing to the extraordinary
scarcity of rain during the summer months, the khareef crops almost entirely failed, and
everything has been at famine prices ever since. We have had no rainy season, properly so
called; for the land in the beginning, of October was as hard and as bare as a rock. Fortunately
rain fell in the first week of October, which enabled the cultivators to prepare the land for the
winter crops, and thus a most serious famine was prevented. The geological surface formation
consists almost entirely of alluvial deposit, alternating with elevations composed chiefly of sand
and some kunkur ; and as far as borings have extended, the strata consists of clay and sand
in varying proportions, until a greyish sand is met with about 30 feet from the surface.
The level of sub-soil moisture from the surface of the ground is about 18 feet. The canton-
ment of Bareilly occupies the extremity of an elevated sandy plateau bounded on the west and
south by the Ramgunga, and on the east by the Mukutea river. The station itself is beautifully
wooded, and the situation open, airy and pleasant, but towards the south it rises into a number
of hillocks composed almost entirely of loose sand. The mean sea elevation is between 500
and 600 feet, whilst that of the surrounding low lying ground on the west and south is
30 feet lower : consequently the natural drainage is excellent. But during the rains this low-
lying ground soon becomes one sheet of water, and must remain so for several months after-
wards. There are also several tanks in cantonments, which do not seem to have received any
notice in previous reports, and, beyond acting as reservoirs for rain-water, are of no use.
Being well-drained, they do not appear to be in any way hurtful. The cantonments are
extensive, and the ground allotted to the military force here has been well selected, each
being well separated from the others. The cantonment sudder bazar is also conveniently
situated and in the right place; and the city of Bareilly is at least two and a half miles away,
so that there can be no difficulty in stopping all communications whenever this is considered
necessary. The medical history of past years, not only in cantonments, but amongst the
prisoners in the central prison, is in the whole favorable, and shows a remarkable immunity
from epidemics.
IV.
Meteorology and climate.— The climate has been unusually hot, and for many
months during the year, owing, I believe, entirely to the absence of anything like a natural
rainy season. The rainfall during the year amounted to 23.7 inches, and most of this fell
in the early part of' the year and in October and December. The average annual rainfall of
Bareilly is about 40 inches ; in 1872, 47 . 4 inches; in 1873, 32.7 inches; in 1874, 57 . 4 inches;
in 1875, 47.5 inches, and in 1876, 26 . 3 inches.
The lines afford sufficient and excellent accommodation, and are well
drained. The trench system works well, and the ground is cultivated after use.
The wells are protected from surface drainage and yield an abundance of good
water. Food was dear, but the men are well nourished. Clothing is well suited
to season and duty, which is moderate at Bareilly. The men engage in cavalry
sports, cricket and polo. The march from Delhi had no bad effect on the
health of the men, though there was heavy rain, and many of the camping
grounds were under water. The men were supplied at Surgeon Griffith's recom-
mendation with dry grass to lie on. The hospital is excellent. A road has
been made up to the door. Quarters for hospital assistants are still wanting.
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.— Strength of the regiment—
Present
.
.
.
.
.
__
.
.
.
.
.
. 356.53
Absent
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
98.8
Total
.
. 455.33
STATION.
PERIOD.
Strength.
OF
TOTAL NUMBER
Daily
average
number
of sick.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH
PER ANNUM.
rrom
To
Admis-
sions. Deaths.
a d m i s - s i o n s . Deaths.
Daily.
average
sick.
Head-quarters at Delhie
.
1st Jan 1877
9th Jan. 1877
Ditto
marching . 10th
„
23rd „
„
309.56
93
4
5.92 30.04 1.29
1.91
Ditto at Bareilly . 24th
„
31st Dec.
„
Detachment at Moradabad . 20th
„
Ditto
„
46.97
10
1
.23 22.74 2.23
.48
Total
.
. . .
. . .
356.53
103
5
6.15 28.88
1.40 1.72
Number of deaths in hospital, 5; out of hospital, 1; total
6; per cent, of total strength
.
.
1.31
„
invalided .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
6;
„
„
.
.
1.31
„
sent on sick leave
.
.
.
.
.
.
8;
„ „
.
.
1.75
,,
of days spent in hospital,
2,246; per admission
21.80; per man of total strength .
.
4.93
„ „
on sick leave, 1,912; per man
.
239;
„
„
.
.
4.19
Total temporary loss of service per man of total strength
.
.
9-12