Medical and sanitary report of the native army of Bombay, for the year 1879. : Framed on the weekly and annual returns, on the reports of regimental medical officers, and on the inspection reports of deputy surgeons general. With statistical tables.

  • Bombay (Presidency). Military Department.
Date:
1880
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical and sanitary report of the native army of Bombay, for the year 1879. : Framed on the weekly and annual returns, on the reports of regimental medical officers, and on the inspection reports of deputy surgeons general. With statistical tables. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    built in 1875, but many stations are still badly in want of new lines. At Assirgarh new lines have been sanctioned, but tlie lines of the 13th N- I. at Mhow are reported as being so dilapidated that they are apparently about to fall. At Deesa, where the 26th were stationed, they are old, dilapidated, and past repair, and have been already condemned twice or thrice; they have no plinths, and the floor is below the level of the surrounding ground. The lines of the 7th N. I. at Bhooj are bad, but it is stated that orders have been issued for them to be rebuilt. The roofs of several of the lines leak in the rains, and those of the 20tli N. I. at Baroda and the 2nd Light Cavalry at Poona were flooded in the rains, the former on account of the insufficient depth of the drain running from the north- west corner, and the latter owing to an insufficient fall to insure a flow in the drain. To remedy this the Officer Commanding (Colonel Macnaughten) had moorum laid down and a stone surface drain built with a small brick reservoir at the end, which was sunk below the ground level. As regards the cavalry lines, the small walled-in enclosures in front of each hut are universally condemned as being merely cloaks for dirty habits. It would seem advisable, if they cannot easily be dispensed /with on account of the preju- dices of the particular caste of natives who enlist in these regiments, that they should at least be inspected and cleaned out once or twice a week, as is done in the Poona Horse. Drainage to prevent the sullage of the horses, which are picketed between the lines, soaking into the ground, would also be very beneficial, and might be carried out at a small expense. 20. The trench system is used in many of the native lines where it is possible, but latrines on the standard plan are far more common. Conseivancy. In the distance the men have to go from their lines is a great drawback, as it is difficult to enforce the use of them on all occa- sions on the women and children, who frequently make use of the lines or their own huts. At night, too, it is well known that the men will not take the trouble to walk to the latrines. Dirty naturally in their habits and education, they cannot be expected to appreciate the benefits conferred on them by civilization. The nuisance that consequently follows in the lines might be partially prevented by having urinals in the lines, as has already been done at Nusseerabad, where the 2nd Grenadiers were stationed. The Medical Officer states that there are six urinals with masonry beds in the lines for the men; dry sand is used in these and changed twice daily. This is an excellent plan, and one that will not only improve the general conservancy of the line, but also contribute largely to the comfort of the men. The use of trenches is favourably reported on by all the Medical Officers of stations where they are in use, and it would appear that, when practicable, this is the best system to use, provided, however, that the trenches are supplemented by latrines to be used in the rains. At Ahmednugger the Medical Officer of the 23rd N. L. I. reports that “from the position of the lines and nature of the soil in camp it would be impossible to use trench latrines,” and the Medical Officer of the 20th Regiment at Baroda states that in consequence of the scarcity of suitable ground the regiment has reverted to the use of pukha-built latrines, the expense having been defrayed during a portion of the year by contributions from the men themselves. The latrines themselves, which are built on what is known as the standard plan, are most objectionable. They are built of brickwork with partition of the same material and with an earthen rough stone floor raised a foot or more above the ground; in these are placed so many wooden or iron pans, generally of a square shape,' which are drawn out through an opening in the back wall once or twice a day; the stone on which they are placed is rough, laid level, and without any drain in it, the consequence is that the urine, which men do not take the trouble to pass in the pan, together with the water which natives use for