Medical History of H. M. \5th Hussars. 387 



guard, lines &c. Hence the great necessity of attention to 

 guard room accommodation, head dress, and exposure, &c. 

 on the sentry walks. 



The guards usually mount at 10 o'clock, an hour certainly 

 too late in this country, and entailing an exposure which no- 

 thing but absolute necessity should sanction. 



Section V. 



Internal Economy, particularly as regards the measures for repression of Intemperance— the 

 prevalance or rarity of Crime and Punishment among the Troops and— Measures employed 

 to furnish them with healthy exercise and amusements. 



There have been 269 acute cases treated during the year, of 

 which only 26 appear to have been caused by intemperance. 

 Drunkenness therefore apparently has had more influence 

 as a predisposing, than an exciting cause of the soldiers' ma- 

 ladies. Facilities for obtaining intoxicating drinks always 

 exist. 



It is the same at all stations throughout India ; a variety 

 of fermenting substances are easily obtained, and the natives 

 are adepts at converting them into alcoholic potations. The 

 abkarry contract legalizes the sale of spirits to the Natives, 

 and thence the Europeans can, and do obtain it, notwithstand- 

 ing the prohibitions which exist to such sale. Some impute 

 much of the intemperance to this source, though others, for 

 whose judgment we entertain great respect, consider that the 

 abkarry contract secures a better kind of spirits, and rather 

 conduces to health by substituting a less pernicious beverage, 

 for the poisonous trash concocted by the natives. 



There has been, according to the Commanding Officer's 

 return, an increase of crime and punishment, as compared 

 with the preceding year. 61 have been tried and sentenced, 

 which is greater than the number in the previous year, as 

 61 is to 55, but as there has been only the same number of 

 deaths and less sickness, the increase of crime does not seem 

 to have influenced disease. 



