Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the sanitary state of the army in India : with précis of evidence / presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty.

  • Great Britain. Commissioners Appointed to Inquire into the Sanitary State of the Army in India.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the sanitary state of the army in India : with précis of evidence / presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    261/272 page 257
    Mr. A. Grant—, states that there is nothing which would render it inexpedient to station a large body of troops on the Neilgherries. The locality is very accessible; there is plenty of room, open to the sea- breezes, and by moving from one side to the other the rains may be altogether escaped. All patients are benefited there, except those suf- fering from affections of the heart and brain. Has not seen any diarrhoea there, nor scurvy; vegetables and water are good and abundant. European labourers might be employed there without injury, and with their families might occupy that country. Would not recommend Newera Ellia, Ceylon, as a station for troops; it is far inferior to the Neilgherries, and very expensive. Every regiment should have a convalescent depot on the hills, to which the weakly men and officers may be sent, who would soon be set up and ready as a reserve. There might be the regimental records, workshops, gardens, &c., and recruits might be sent thither and drilled. One-third or half the whole force might be in the hills. Pp. 259-261, Q. 4407-4469. Considers the hills of great importance for the cure of disease, as well as the preservation of health. New stations at first unhealthy have proved healthy after- wards ; e.gPegu. Cholera has not been known at Darjeeling or Nynee Tal. Pp. 262, 263, Q. 4498-4521. Colonel Durand—, thinks it would endanger the security of the country to place large bodies of troops permanently in the hills, but that the depdt system spoken of by Mr. Grant would be exceedingly useful. Any surplusage or reserves beyond what are necessary for the quiet occupation of the country may be stationed in the hills, especially when the railroads are completed; but the key-points, e.g., Allahabad, must not be given up, the country being held practically by the sword, and small posts should be avoided. It is not possible to keep the population disarmed. P. 285, Q. 5122-5136. Sir C. Trevelyan—, considers that the plain stations must be held, and troops occupying these stations are in some degree acclimated and better able to act effectively than they would be if suddenly brought down into the plains. In the hills the men complain of want of society and amusement, and of a market for their labour, if disposed to work ; they are therefore more difficult to manage, and are better both for their own sakes and the public service in the plains. All efforts should be brought to bear on the conditions of health there. Would recom- mend that the Wellington barracks be made a sanitarium for the south of India for weakly men wanting change of air in time to prevent sickness, and they should have the same freedom to resort to the sani- tarium as officers have. Strong men prefer being in the plains. The railways will facilitate transport to the sanitarium ; they will also enable smaller garrisons to be kept at the present stations by the concentra- tion of a large force at healthy stations within easy reach, e.g. at Bangalore, which commands the whole of Southern India. Believes small posts, e.g. Vellore, to be a source of weakness, and for this reason had removed detachments from Dindigul and Masulipatam. Thinks the employment of the hills as sanitaria for the whole army Would promote colonization there, as all the men would become ac- quainted with the hill climates, and many would be induced to settle there. P. 296, Q. 5319-5357. Dr. Hugh Falconer—, thinks no station would be favourable for European troops under 5,000 or 6,000 feet. Experiments might be made at lower elevations, but it would not be taking advantage of the conditions within our grasp. The forest should be thinned in low ele- [N.B.—See note p, 201 ante.'] Ji Hill
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3