Confined Barracks.?We would draw the attention of the Sanatory Commissioner to the accommodation provided for the native regiment which is required to reside in the Fort. The bomb-proof barracks in which the men live are simply dungeons, with but little ventilation, reminding the visitor of the Black Hole of a past century. We believe that they have been repeatedly condemned. They resemble the range of rooms on the basement floor of the Medical College Hospital, which are only used for stores, and, temporarily, for lunatic?, and drunkards brought by the police. For ordinary human habitation they are quite These native barracks in the Fort are, moreover,
unsuited.
according to Prolonged has
now
the
been more than
include Benares.*
we
personally cleanly. keeps
the
"
views of the
an
"We must remember that the Sikh is
He would therefore
unfavorable influences and
day, far too crowded. uncongenial climate.?The regiment four years in an unsuitable climate, if
hygienic
residence in
more
cutaneous
naturally
no
suffer from
than the Oudh sepoy, who bathe3 eihunctory" in full operation, daily.
The lesson to be learnt from this outbreak,
we
venture to
urge,
Bengal climate is singularly unsuited to the Sikh constitution; and if, added to this, he cannot afford suitable food, and lives in close quarters, being at the same time very much over-worked, the chances are strongly in favor of his blood becoming impoverished, even to the melancholy extent which' we have recently witnessed in Fort William. As these sheets are passing through the press, we observe that tenders are being invited for the construction of a Native Infantry Hospital. Will it not be wise to do the same for barracks is that the
SCURVY IN FORT WILLIAM.
Outbreaks of scurvy are rare, now-a-days, in India. On Dr. Bryden's statistical tables for the last ten also ? years, we find that the disease has become?as the result of
looking through
our better acquaintance with its pathology, and of appropriate prophylaxis in the shape of suitable diet and vegetables, in addition to improved hygiene generally?almost extinct throughout the lengtli and breadth of the country. A few cases of scurvy are admitted annually into the city hospitals, supplied, almost invariably, by ill-found Liverpool ships; but, beyond this, the
existence of the disease in India is almost unknown.
When, therefore,
the announcement reached
that it had
us
regiment in the Fort?more than fifty being admitted into hospital in a few weeks, of whom five or sis had died, independent of some twenty or more who had attacked
a
fine
Sikh
been sent to their homes
incredible;
the more,
on
medical certificate?it seemed almost
too, because the men,
understand,
we
have not been much underfed, and because they have eaten freely of what in the Punjab is considered, and with reason, almost
specific "We
as a
are
prophylactic against scurvy?viz,,
happy
health, which is throughout the
to hear that the
regiment
is
onions.
improving in lime-juice hospital have also
now
attributed to the free exhibition of entire corps.
Tho sick in
derived great benefit from being removed into tents. But what has been the cause of this unusual the blood ?
One reason
assigned
is the
dyscrasia of procuring difficulty of
milk?of antiscorbutic reputation, and a favourite item in a Sikh's diet?which, however, is too expensive a luxury for him in Calcutta, as is also butcher's meat, to which he is likewise very partial. This may be one in the chain of causes, of which there have been, doubtless, several in operation : probably excessive work, confined barracks, and prolonged residence in an uncongenial climate have been the chief of the evil influences. Excessive Work.?The average number of nights in bed has for some time been less than two during the week !
*
The corps
was
in
perfect health when it left Benares?Ed.,
I. M. G.
unsuited.
according to Prolonged has
now
the
been more than
include Benares.*
we
personally cleanly. keeps
the
"
views of the
an
"We must remember that the Sikh is
He would therefore
unfavorable influences and
day, far too crowded. uncongenial climate.?The regiment four years in an unsuitable climate, if
hygienic
residence in
more
cutaneous
naturally
no
suffer from
than the Oudh sepoy, who bathe3 eihunctory" in full operation, daily.
The lesson to be learnt from this outbreak,
we
venture to
urge,
Bengal climate is singularly unsuited to the Sikh constitution; and if, added to this, he cannot afford suitable food, and lives in close quarters, being at the same time very much over-worked, the chances are strongly in favor of his blood becoming impoverished, even to the melancholy extent which' we have recently witnessed in Fort William. As these sheets are passing through the press, we observe that tenders are being invited for the construction of a Native Infantry Hospital. Will it not be wise to do the same for barracks is that the
SCURVY IN FORT WILLIAM.
Outbreaks of scurvy are rare, now-a-days, in India. On Dr. Bryden's statistical tables for the last ten also ? years, we find that the disease has become?as the result of
looking through
our better acquaintance with its pathology, and of appropriate prophylaxis in the shape of suitable diet and vegetables, in addition to improved hygiene generally?almost extinct throughout the lengtli and breadth of the country. A few cases of scurvy are admitted annually into the city hospitals, supplied, almost invariably, by ill-found Liverpool ships; but, beyond this, the
existence of the disease in India is almost unknown.
When, therefore,
the announcement reached
that it had
us
regiment in the Fort?more than fifty being admitted into hospital in a few weeks, of whom five or sis had died, independent of some twenty or more who had attacked
a
fine
Sikh
been sent to their homes
incredible;
the more,
on
medical certificate?it seemed almost
too, because the men,
understand,
we
have not been much underfed, and because they have eaten freely of what in the Punjab is considered, and with reason, almost
specific "We
as a
are
prophylactic against scurvy?viz,,
happy
health, which is throughout the
to hear that the
regiment
is
onions.
improving in lime-juice hospital have also
now
attributed to the free exhibition of entire corps.
Tho sick in
derived great benefit from being removed into tents. But what has been the cause of this unusual the blood ?
One reason
assigned
is the
dyscrasia of procuring difficulty of
milk?of antiscorbutic reputation, and a favourite item in a Sikh's diet?which, however, is too expensive a luxury for him in Calcutta, as is also butcher's meat, to which he is likewise very partial. This may be one in the chain of causes, of which there have been, doubtless, several in operation : probably excessive work, confined barracks, and prolonged residence in an uncongenial climate have been the chief of the evil influences. Excessive Work.?The average number of nights in bed has for some time been less than two during the week !
*
The corps
was
in
perfect health when it left Benares?Ed.,
I. M. G.
