6

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.

Recruits.

kept in better health than most of the men of other regiments who have occupied the station
previously. The recruits who joined during the year were, as a rule, young men of very good
physique, and they have kept in comparatively good health, considering the large amount of
drill they have to undergo as compared with the sepoys.

Caste.

      Caste. —The regiment consists almost entirely of Sikhs, with a small proportion of Pun-
jabee Mussulmans and Dograhs. The numbers of the latter are too small for comparison, but
I may state my opinion to be that the Punjabee Mussulman is the most healthy, the Sikhs
come next, and the Dograhs are the most unhealthy and give a large proportion of the admis-
sions, daily sick, and those sent on sick leave. I believe, for some reason or other, we do not
get a good class of this caste to join our regiment. I do not know why, but I have heard
them spoken of as a good class of men, and find those of this regiment to be very inferior
compared to the Sikh and Punjabee Mussulman.

Subordinates.

      The hospital assistants and hospital servants have all performed their duties in a satis-
factory way during the year.

Inspection.

      Inspection. —Inspected by the Deputy Surgeon-General of the Presidency
Circle on the 17th January 1876. The barracks are the same which were
occupied by the 28th Regiment, Native Infantry, in 1875, and they are reported
on as being in good repair, well ventilated and commodious. The drainage
was considered to be satisfactory. Alterations have been made in the regi-
mental latrine by which it has been greatly improved in every respect.
Municipal and filtered water was employed for drinking and cooking purposes.
All the hospital arrangements were complete and efficient for the proper
treatment of the sick. Mr. Cockburn inspected the whole of the men off
duty, and reports on them as follows: "They are a very fine body of men, in
good health and condition, and the recruits also."

38th Regiment, Native Infantry—Barrackpore.

Medical
Officer.

      I. Medical Officer. —Surgeon W. M. Courtney held medical charge of the
regiment throughout the year.

Location and
movements.

      II. Location and movements —The regiment was encamped on the maidan, Calcutta,
from the 1st to the 7th January,
during the visit of the Prince of
Wales. It proceeded by rail to
Barrackpore on the latter date,
where it has remained throughout
the year. A detachment of an
average strength of 114 men,
which was relieved at first after
seven months and then every two
months, was stationed at Dum-
Dum, in medical charge of the
Station Staff Surgeon.

Topography

   III. Topography —Has been fully
described in previous reports.
The cantonment is situated 15
miles north of Calcutta, on the
left bank of the River Hooghly,
60 feet above the sea level; soil clayey and retentive of moisture. Jungle abounds in the
neighbourhood.

Meteorology.

      IV. Meteorology. —Highest temperature during the year 95°Fahr., lowest 55°, average max-
imum 87°.6, average minimun 72°.4. Average range for year 15°.2.

Lines,
barracks
and huts.

      V. Lines, barracks and huts .—Rebuilt by the 27th Native Infantry in 1872, described at
pages 103, 105, 107, 108, 112,116 of the Medical and Sanitary Report of the Native Army of
Bengal for 1869, and at page 17 of the report for 1872. The site appears to be an unhealthy
one, as it is in a low situation, and in the rains the soil becomes exceedingly damp. The soil of
the Native lines to the west of the station is of a less clayey structure, being intermixed with
sand. The accommodation in the present lines is rather small for a full regiment, but they
are now being enlarged, and the Native Officers' houses will be constructed of brick with tiled
roofs. Many of the barracks require new thatch, but all the necessary repairs will be shortly
carried out. Several of the large trees near the barracks have been lopped, and some of them
have been cut down, in order to afford free ventilation and to promote absorption of moisture
by the sun's rays.

Drainage.

      VI. Drainage. —The drainage of the station is defective, particularly the central parade
ground, which after a heavy shower becomes flooded. The lines are drained by surface cut-
tings, which carry off the water to a fair extent, but in heavy rain, owing to the retentive
nature of the soil, the dampness predominates.