44

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.

middle of the east front is the dead-house, and in the north-eastern corner a double latrine for
six seats. The hospital itself occupies the centre of the compound. It is, as well as all the
buildings above mentioned, built of large stones, set in mortar, but, unlike the others, has a
corrugated iron roof, and the inside walls are plastered with mortar. This building consists
of two long wards leading one into the other through a large archway. The northern one
is 78'×20'×13½,' and has accommodation for 26 beds. The southern is 72' × 20' × 13½,'
with space for 24 beds, making a total of 50. The superficial space allowed for each man is
60 square feet, and the cubic space 810 cubic feet. On either side are doors and glass
windows, which run alternately. Over each door is a fan light, and over each window a fixed
venetian, directed upwards. I particularly asked that these might be put in, so as to insure on
all occasions a free ventilation. The fresh air is always entering (and it matters not if every
door and window is shut, as is most frequently the case), but from being first directed against
the ceiling, no draught is felt. The ceiling, which also has ventilators in it, is of wood.
This subdues the heat, which is given off from the iron. The external surface of the iron is
painted a light drab, and therefore does not absorb so much heat as a dark colour would; nor
show dirt so readily as white. In the hottest part of the day in the hot season the tempera-
ture is very little, if at all, above that of a tiled building; and as soon as the sun sets, the metal
gives off its heat very rapidly, and is therefore much cooler at night. On both east and
west of the wards are deep verandahs, which keep off the morning and evening sun. At the
four corners of the building are small rooms. The two at the northern extremity are fitted as
office and dispensary, and the other two as bath-rooms. The floors are all of stone, and are well
raised above the ground. Young trees have during the past season been planted round the
compound I have omitted to mention that there are two excellent cook-rooms situated between
the hospital and the hospital assistants' quarters; but they are never used, as the men prefer
having their food cooked in their huts and brought to them.

Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.

   X V. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.— Strength of the regiment—

Principal
causes of
sickness.

   XVI. Principal causes of sickness.—Undoubtedly malaria has been the chief predisposing
cause of sickness, and this has been assisted by overcrowding in huts, want of sufficient
clothing, and insufficient nourishment.

Principal
causes of
mortality.

   XVII. Principal causes of mortality. —There have been 5 deaths in and 4 out of hospital
during the year. In 1875 there were 11 in and 5 out. The first of the deaths in hospital was
that of an old man who was under treatment for severe ague; the next was a case of double
pneumonia; the third was from phthisis pulmonalis of some months' standing. Then came a
worn-out old man who was admitted for ague, which was afterwards complicated with bron-
chitis. This was followed by another emaciated man whose attack of ague was complicated
with pneumonia. Of the 4 cases out of hospital, two died while on sick leave from ague;
the other two died from cholera—one near Cawnpore, and the second at Secunderabad railway
station.

Epidemics.

   XVIII. Epidemics .—Cholera had from the commencement of the hot weather been in and
about the district, but did not find its way into the station until the 1st June, from which date
it rapidly spread among the civil population. On its appearance, strict precautionary measures
were adopted to prevent communication between the troops and persons from infected localities.
On the 4th July, a large gathering of natives from the sudder bazar, which is within pistol-
shot of the lines, went out to a field to make ceremony to drive off the cholera. Three or
four boys from the lines went in amongst them, and returned with a number of wild mangoes,
which had been left behind as an offering, and of these they ate very freely. At 2 A. M. of
the following morning the eldest boy was seized with cholera, and was removed to the infectious
ward. The hut was emptied, and all precautionary measures adopted. On the 8th, this boy's
brother was seized (at 2 P. M.), and about the same time the cousin was also reported ill. Both
were taken to hospital. These boys rapidly sank into the stage of collapse, from which the two
latter never made the slightest signs of reaction. The elder boy eventually recovered. On the
11th, a sepoy's wife was admitted, having had diarrhœa; the last motions being like rice water.