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(iv) Inspection of Sources of Supply .—During the year it has become the
practice that all firms applying for contract to supply articles of food shall be
inspected by the nearest D. A. D. H. before the Supplying firm is accepted.
This method has proved of definite value not only to us but to the contractors
who have received advice as to necessary improvements in the hygienic condi
- t i o n o f t h e i r p r e m i s e s .
(v) Measley Beef.—Trouble has been experienced with this at Quetta
-Karachi and the stations of the Southern Command. This has necessitated
careful control of meat. supplies.
(vi) Ascorbic acid tablets.—These were fully tested out at the Military Food
L a b o r a t o r y , K a s a u l i , d u r i n g t h e e a r l y s u m m e r t o c h e c k t h e v i t a m i n " C "
content. The results were satisfactory, after preliminary failures due to local
and climatic causes. These have now been finally introduced into the field
service ration.
(vii) Messing.—Considerable attention has been paid to this and reports
of the Inspector of Catering are carefully studied by medical administrative
officers. Difficulties are now arising in the increased cost of food stuffs since
the onset of war. Since the increase of the ration allowances units have
been able to provide excellent and ample dietary without any "extra messing
charge". The present increased cost will mean either an increase in allowance,
a decrease in the quantity of food which can be purchased, a decrease of the
rebate paid by the contractor or an increase in the free ration.
G. Ordnance Factories, Workshops and Industrial diseases
At the beginning of the year instructions were issued for Hygiene Officers
to watch for the occurrence of cases of industrial disease in Workshops and
Ordnance Factories and to comment on these in their reports.
In the majority of cases no evidence of such diseases came to notice, but
with increasing industrialisation and its effects on skilled labour such diseases
will undoubtedly become common. Even now cases of lead poisoning from
paint shops are occasionally reported.
In Lahore District it is reported that during the emergency period signs
of strain were not lacking and defects in lighting on the plane of work became
obvious. Shaded bench and table lights are needed in many places.
The Clothing Factory at Shahjahanpur doubled its working staff and
employed work shifts day and night without any outbreaks of disease. But
here the question of adequate lighting was the subject of special reports.
This question of adequate lighting on the plane of work is one which is
obviously neglected throughout private and public workshops and offices in
India.
H. Hot-weather Precautions
(i) Owing to the great increase of movements necessitated by the general
situation special measures have been needed to safeguard all types of military
personnel travelling throughout the hot weather, a time during which under
normal circumstances movement is severely restricted because of the dangers
from heat.
The arrival and departure of Transports have continued throughout the
hot weather season, well beyond normal trooping periods. This has meant
the conveyance of troops and families by train through the length and breadth
of India under hot weather conditions. With special precautions as to times
of journeys, meals and the provision of ice this procedure has been successfully