114

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.

Exercise,
amusements,
&c.

      XII. Exercise, amusements and occupation. —Tent-pegging, lime-cutting, lance versus
sword and lance versus lance, single stick, gymnastics, polo, shooting, fishing, &c., according
to the season of the year is practised by the men.

Hospital.

      XIV. Hospital. —The hospital is a strong masonry structure, built according to the stand-
ard plan, with sloping tiled roof, and is distant about 200 yards from the south-east corner,
and to the right flank of the lines. The entrance and exit from it face north and south, and
the sides, which have seven doors each, east and west; and as the prevailing winds are from the
two latter directions, the wards and the whole of the interior of the building can in consequence
be thoroughly ventilated at any time. There is besides very good ventilation along the whole
ridge of the roof. The building affords ample and good accommodation, and possesses every re-
quirement and convenience. The dimensions of the main ward of the hospital are 72 feet long
x 20 feet broad and 26½ feet high, which gives a superficial area of 1,440 feet and 38,160
cubical contents; and if the ward had the full complement of men (it is calculated to hold
24), each patient would have a superficial area of 60 feet and 1,590 cubic feet. The two
enclosed verandahs measure 72 feet x 10 x 16, giving a superficial area of 750 feet and cubic
contents 115.20 cubic feet for each man, as these verandahs can accommodate 12 beds each.
The hospital latrine answers the purpose well: it is kept clean, and the dry-earth system
fully carried out and enforced. The well attached to the hospital contains an ample supply of
wholesome water. The hospital assistants' quarters are in every respect most inadequate.
They consist of flat-roofed huts, measuring 12 feet x 10, in which they sleep, cook, and
eat their food, perform their ablutions, &c.; and there is no provision whatever for medical
pupils, who have in consequence to find quarters in the sudder bazar, a distance of about
two miles from the native cavalry hospital. This was pointed out to Dr. Tresidder when
he made his last inspection, and he promised to make a strong representation on the subject.
Last summer, the want of some shady spot contiguous to the hospital was very much felt
by the sick; and in consequence I addressed the general commanding the station on the
subject, who at once met my wishes by authorising the cantonment magistrate not only
to supply me with as many trees as I required from the public garden, but also to provide a
bhistie to look after and water them regularly. About 250 fast-growing umbrageous trees were
planted all round the hospital, and even already they have sprung up so much that I am in
great hopes benefit will be derived from them in another year, or thereabouts, when, in addition
to affording grateful shade to the sick, they will be a great ornament to the neighbourhood.

Sickness,
mortality, and
invaliding.

      XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding. —Strength of the regiment—

Principal
causes of
sickness.

      XVI. Principal causes of sickness. —During the year under review fevers, as usual, pre-
dominated over all other classes of disease, and next to them in frequency affections of the
abdominal viscera.

Vaccination.

      XIX. Vaccination. —No cases of small-pox occurred among the men or camp followers.
All the recruits are examined on being entertained, and if unprotected, are vaccinated. Fifty-
nine of the children belonging to the men in the regiment were vaccinated by myself last
spring, of which number 55 proved successful.

Inspection.

      Inspection. —Dr. Tresidder, Deputy Surgeon-General of the Umballa Circle,
made his annual inspection of this regiment on the 15th of November 1876.
He reports that the regiment was very carefully inspected in all its details,
and was found to be in a highly satisfactory state. All matters requiring the
attention of the local military authorities were represented, and were imme-
diately attended to.