Observations on the evidence contained in the stational reports submitted to her by the Royal Commission on the Sanitary State of the Army in India / by Florence Nightingale.

  • Nightingale, Florence, 1820-1910.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the evidence contained in the stational reports submitted to her by the Royal Commission on the Sanitary State of the Army in India / by Florence Nightingale. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    43/104 (page 35)
    over the place occasionally, under such a system, is still less surprising. At Bangalore, one of the largest of our Madras stations, where numerous acute attacks of disease are brought on by the quantity of spirits drunk, notwithstanding its fine, healthy, temperate climate, 3,000 feet above the sea, it is stated that, probably, ' not three men out of five go to bed perfectly sober,' and when pay is issued not two in five. That, of one-year soldiers, 1 per cent, is a drunkard; after two years 2 per cent.; and so the proportion in- creases with length of residence, owing to their ' idle, listless, objectless lives.' In India, temperance is the exception and intemperance the rule. ' But ' Government is to blame.' It ' bids them drink ' freely,' and when the habit is confirmed ' denounces ' them as a disgrace to their country.' ' The ' habitual daily two drams ruin the health and ' habits of the soldier, who thinks that as long as ' he takes only what Government allows him, he ' cannot go wrong.' The taste for spirits, it is said is ' not easily acquired by young soldiers.' ' The ' habit of spirits is maintained by their authorised ' use.' The temperate men, it is stated, all drink occa- sionally ; impossible to say how much spirit is sold in the bazaars. At present the collectors encourage the sale as much as they can for the sake of the revenue. Under no circumstances, except extraor- dinary fatigue, almost all agree, should any drink but beer, tea, or cofi'ee be allowed, and the loss of