82
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Surgeon Corbett resumed the medical charge of the corps, and continued
in charge until the end of the year.
Location and
movements.
II. Location and movements. —The head-quarters of the regiment was stationed in camp
at Delhi from the 1st of January until the 8th of February; from the 8th of February until the
10th of the same month, on the line of march between Delhi and Meerut; at Meerut from
the 10th of February to the 29th of November; from the 29th of November to the 1st of
December, on the line of march between Meerut and Delhi; and from the 1st of December until
the end of the year the regiment was stationed at Delhi, taking part in the Imperial Assemblage
gathering.
Detachments.
Detachments. —A detachment of the regiment was stationed at Delhi from the 11th of
February until the 4th of December: average strength 48.1. A detachment was stationed at
Agra from the 18th of February to the 10th of October: average strength 49.9. A depôt was
stationed at Meerut from the 1st of January until the 10th of February: strength 67.5; and
from the 29th of November to the end of the year: strength 80.5.
Topography.
III. Topography. —But little change has taken place in the station since last year's
report. The Abu nullah, mentioned by Surgeon Gunn in that report as having been enlarged,
and in fact re-constructed for the purpose of more thoroughly draining the station, has been
kept in working order during the past year. Owing to the scanty rainfall, it contained but
little water; and to obviate any ill-effects likely to arise from the stagnation of that little,
the nullah was periodically flooded from the canal by the engineering department. Perhaps
the improvements made in the nullah may have influenced the fall that took place in the level
of the subsoil water during the year.
Lines.
V. Lines. —No changes have taken place in the lines since last report. They are in good
order, and have been carefully looked after during the year. The bazar was regularly inspected
and kept perfectly clean during the year.
Drainage.
VI. Drainage. —As described in last report. During the year, the surface drains were
deepened and cleansed in anticipation of the rains.
Conservancy
and latrines.
VII. Conservancy and Latrines. —The regimental latrines were described in last year's
report. During the past year they answered very well, and no complaints were made by the
men of the accommodation provided for them in this respect. The conservancy cart removed
the filth daily, and the staff of mehters did their work well in keeping the place thoroughly
clean. The defect in the latrine mentioned in last year's report, "want of a light roof to
protect the men during the rains," has been remedied during the past year. It is a great im-
provement, and renders it an excellent form of latrine.
Water-supply.
VIII. Water-supply. —The water-supply has been amply described in former reports;
vide annual reports of the regiment for the years 1874 and 1875: no change in the supply
has taken place during the year 1876. In the lines, the water still continues to be drawn
from large masonry wells, admirably protected from surface drainage. The surplus water is
carried off from the immediate vicinity of the mouths of the wells by open masonry drains.
The water itself is a good potable water.
Diet.
IX. Diet. —The food offered for sale in the regimental bazar during the year was always
of good quality and abundant. It was a particularly good year for grains, pulses, &c., the prices
of which compared favorably with the prices of the same articles in the year 1875. In fact,
with a few exceptions, all articles of diet were cheaper during the year under review. Particular
attention was paid to the quality of the meat exposed for sale in the bazar. As some complaints
had been made by the flesh-eating portion of the regiment, a decided improvement took place
after one or two warnings. An order has also been issued that all the meat offered for sale in the
regimental bazar should be protected from flies by being covered with muslin, or other kind of
cloth. Previous to the issuing of this order, I feel assured that many of the men were prevented
from purchasing meat by seeing it covered with flies. Independently of its disgusting effect,
such a state of things could not be other than hurtful. No decided case of underfeeding came
under notice during the year. One or two cases of improper feeding did, however, occur.
Clothing.
X. Clothing. —As described in former reports of the regiment.
Duty.
XI. Duty. —The average number of nights in bed during the year amounted to 7.68
(head-quarters). During the period that the regiment was taking part in the manœuvres at
the camp of exercise, Delhi, the amount of work and exposure that the men underwent was,
though often severe, seldom excessive. The large brigade and divisional parades were, no
doubt, long and tiring; but they had the advantage of excitement and novelty about them,
and the men took an interest in them. On more than one occasion the regiment was out from
7 A.M. until dark, but in spite of this unusually severe work, the men throve wonderfully, and
at the termination of the camp of exercise, the improvement in their physique was manifest to
even a casual observer.
Amusements
and occupa-
tion.
XII. Amusements and occupation. —The games and amusements that the men indulged in
during the year consisted of tent-pegging, lime-cutting, running, and athletics generally.
Many of the men also went in for shooting. The men had ample opportunity of showing off
their skill in games, as sports were frequent, both at the camp of exercise and at the Imperial
Assemblage camp. Sports came off weekly in cantonments also during the hot weather, and
gave the men a stimulus to practise. As a proof of the excellent form shown by the men, par-
ticularly at tent-pegging, I may mention that one of the sowars won the Prince of Wales' prize
at the camp of exercise, beating the competitors from 13 cavalry regiments, both European
and Native.